Alexandre Ribot
Encyclopedia
Alexandre-Félix-Joseph Ribot (alɛksɑ̃dʁ ʁibo; 7 February 1842 – 13 January 1923) was a French politician, four times Prime Minister.
, Pas-de-Calais.
After a brilliant academic career at the University of Paris
, where he was lauréat of the faculty of law, he rapidly made his mark at the bar. He was secretary of the conference of advocates and one of the founders of the Sociéte de legislation comparée. During 1875 and 1876 he was successively director of criminal affairs and secretary-general at the ministry of justice. In 1877 he entered politics, playing a conspicuous part on the committee of legal resistance during the Brogue ministry; in the following year he was returned to the chamber as a moderate republican member for Boulogne
, in his native département of Pas-de-Calais.
His impassioned yet reasoned eloquence gave him an influence which was increased by his articles in the Parlement in which he opposed violent measures against the unauthorized congregations. He devoted himself especially to financial questions, and in 1882 was reporter of the budget. He became one of the most prominent republican opponents of the Radical party, distinguishing himself by his attacks on the short-lived Gambetta
ministry. He refused to vote the credits demanded by the Ferry
cabinet for the Tongking expedition, and helped Georges Clemenceau
overthrow the ministry in 1885. At the general election of that year he was a victim of the Republican rout in the Pas-de-Calais, and did not re-enter the chamber till 1887.
After 1889 he sat for St Omer. His fear of the Boulangist movement converted him to the policy of "Republican Concentration," and he entered office in 1890 as foreign minister in the Freycinet cabinet. He had an intimate acquaintance and sympathy with English' institutions,' and two of his published works – an address, Biographie de Lord Erskine (1866), and Etude sur l'acte du 5 avril 1873 pour l'etablissement d'une cour supreme de justice en Angleterre (1874) – deal with English law; he also gave a fresh and highly important direction to French policy by the understanding with Russia
, which was declared to the world by the visit of the French fleet to Kronstadt
in 1891, and which subsequently ripened into a formal treaty of alliance. He retained his post in Émile Loubet
's ministry (February–November 1892), and on its defeat he became president of the council, retaining the direction of foreign affairs. The government resigned in March 1893 over the refusal of the chamber to accept the Senate's amendments to the budget. On the election of Félix Faure
as president of the Republic in January 1895, Ribot again became premier and minister of finance. On 10 June he was able to make the first official announcement of a definite alliance with Russia. On 30 October the government was defeated on the question of the Chemin de fer du Sud, and resigned office.
The real reason of its fall was the mismanagement of the Madagascar
expedition, the cost of which in men and money exceeded all expectations, and the alarming social conditions at home, as indicated by the strike at Carmaux
. After the fall of Jules Méline
's ministry in 1898 M. Ribot tried in vain to form a cabinet of "conciliation." He was elected, at the end of 1898, president of the important commission on education, in which he advocated the adoption of a modern system of education. The policy of the Waldeck-Rousseau ministry on the religious teaching congregations broke up the Republican party, and Ribot was among the seceders; but at the general election of 1902, though he himself secured re-election, his policy suffered a severe check.
He actively opposed the policy of the Combes
ministry and denounced the alliance with Jean Léon Jaurès, and on 13 January 1905 he was one of the leaders of the opposition which brought about the fall of the cabinet. Although he had been most violent in denouncing the anti-clerical policy of the Combes cabinet, he now announced his willingness to recognize a new régime to replace the Concordat of 1801
, and gave the government his support in the establishment of the Associations culturelles, while he secured some mitigation of the seventies attending the separation.
He was re-elected deputy for St. Omer in 1906. In the same year he became a member of the Académie française
in succession to the duc d'Audiffret-Pasquier; he was already a member of the Academy of Moral and Political Science. In justification of his policy in opposition he published in 1905 two volumes of his Discours politiques.
Ribot was brought in as prime minister for a few days in June 1914 following the collapse of the Doumergue
government, and returned to power again in March 1917, following the fall of Briand
. Ribot's final ministry was during the most dismal part of the First World War, seeing the failure of the Nivelle Offensive
and the famous mutiny of the French soldiers which followed. Dismissed in September and replaced by minister of war Paul Painlevé
, Ribot continued as foreign minister for a month before resigning in October.
The main grammar school (lycée) in Saint Omer, the Lycée Alexandre Ribot
, bears his name today.
Changes
Changes
Biography
He was born in Saint-OmerSaint-Omer
Saint-Omer , a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais. The town is named after Saint Audomar, who brought Christianity to the area....
, Pas-de-Calais.
After a brilliant academic career at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, where he was lauréat of the faculty of law, he rapidly made his mark at the bar. He was secretary of the conference of advocates and one of the founders of the Sociéte de legislation comparée. During 1875 and 1876 he was successively director of criminal affairs and secretary-general at the ministry of justice. In 1877 he entered politics, playing a conspicuous part on the committee of legal resistance during the Brogue ministry; in the following year he was returned to the chamber as a moderate republican member for Boulogne
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
, in his native département of Pas-de-Calais.
His impassioned yet reasoned eloquence gave him an influence which was increased by his articles in the Parlement in which he opposed violent measures against the unauthorized congregations. He devoted himself especially to financial questions, and in 1882 was reporter of the budget. He became one of the most prominent republican opponents of the Radical party, distinguishing himself by his attacks on the short-lived Gambetta
Gambetta
Gambetta may refer to:People*Léon Gambetta , French statesman.*Schubert Gambetta , Uruguayan footballer*Diego Gambetta, Italian sociologistOther uses*Gambetta...
ministry. He refused to vote the credits demanded by the Ferry
Jules Ferry
Jules François Camille Ferry was a French statesman and republican. He was a promoter of laicism and colonial expansion.- Early life :Born in Saint-Dié, in the Vosges département, France, he studied law, and was called to the bar at Paris in 1854, but soon went into politics, contributing to...
cabinet for the Tongking expedition, and helped Georges Clemenceau
Georges Clemenceau
Georges Benjamin Clemenceau was a French statesman, physician and journalist. He served as the Prime Minister of France from 1906 to 1909, and again from 1917 to 1920. For nearly the final year of World War I he led France, and was one of the major voices behind the Treaty of Versailles at the...
overthrow the ministry in 1885. At the general election of that year he was a victim of the Republican rout in the Pas-de-Calais, and did not re-enter the chamber till 1887.
After 1889 he sat for St Omer. His fear of the Boulangist movement converted him to the policy of "Republican Concentration," and he entered office in 1890 as foreign minister in the Freycinet cabinet. He had an intimate acquaintance and sympathy with English' institutions,' and two of his published works – an address, Biographie de Lord Erskine (1866), and Etude sur l'acte du 5 avril 1873 pour l'etablissement d'une cour supreme de justice en Angleterre (1874) – deal with English law; he also gave a fresh and highly important direction to French policy by the understanding with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, which was declared to the world by the visit of the French fleet to Kronstadt
Kronstadt
Kronstadt , also spelled Kronshtadt, Cronstadt |crown]]" and Stadt for "city"); is a municipal town in Kronshtadtsky District of the federal city of St. Petersburg, Russia, located on Kotlin Island, west of Saint Petersburg proper near the head of the Gulf of Finland. Population: It is also...
in 1891, and which subsequently ripened into a formal treaty of alliance. He retained his post in Émile Loubet
Émile Loubet
Émile François Loubet was a French politician and the 8th President of France.-Early life:He was born the son of a peasant proprietor and mayor of Marsanne . Admitted to the Parisian bar in 1862, he took his doctorate in law the next year...
's ministry (February–November 1892), and on its defeat he became president of the council, retaining the direction of foreign affairs. The government resigned in March 1893 over the refusal of the chamber to accept the Senate's amendments to the budget. On the election of Félix Faure
Félix Faure
Félix François Faure was President of France from 1895 until his death.-Biography:Félix François Faure was born in Paris, the son of a small furniture maker...
as president of the Republic in January 1895, Ribot again became premier and minister of finance. On 10 June he was able to make the first official announcement of a definite alliance with Russia. On 30 October the government was defeated on the question of the Chemin de fer du Sud, and resigned office.
The real reason of its fall was the mismanagement of the Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
expedition, the cost of which in men and money exceeded all expectations, and the alarming social conditions at home, as indicated by the strike at Carmaux
Carmaux
Carmaux is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France.Carmaux was famous for its important coal mining and its glassworks . "In 1892, Jean Jaurès supported the miners of Carmaux when they went on strike over the dismissal of their leader, Jean Baptiste Calvignac."...
. After the fall of Jules Méline
Jules Méline
Félix Jules Méline was a French statesman, prime minister from 1896 to 1898.-Biography:Méline was born at Remiremont. Having taken up law as his profession, he was chosen a deputy in 1872, and in 1879 he was for a short time under-secretary to the minister of the interior...
's ministry in 1898 M. Ribot tried in vain to form a cabinet of "conciliation." He was elected, at the end of 1898, president of the important commission on education, in which he advocated the adoption of a modern system of education. The policy of the Waldeck-Rousseau ministry on the religious teaching congregations broke up the Republican party, and Ribot was among the seceders; but at the general election of 1902, though he himself secured re-election, his policy suffered a severe check.
He actively opposed the policy of the Combes
Émile Combes
Émile Combes was a French statesman who led the Bloc des gauches's cabinet from June 1902 – January 1905.-Biography:Émile Combes was born in Roquecourbe, Tarn. He studied for the priesthood, but abandoned the idea before ordination. His anti-clericalism would later lead him into becoming a...
ministry and denounced the alliance with Jean Léon Jaurès, and on 13 January 1905 he was one of the leaders of the opposition which brought about the fall of the cabinet. Although he had been most violent in denouncing the anti-clerical policy of the Combes cabinet, he now announced his willingness to recognize a new régime to replace the Concordat of 1801
Concordat of 1801
The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII, signed on 15 July 1801. It solidified the Roman Catholic Church as the majority church of France and brought back most of its civil status....
, and gave the government his support in the establishment of the Associations culturelles, while he secured some mitigation of the seventies attending the separation.
He was re-elected deputy for St. Omer in 1906. In the same year he became a member of the Académie française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
in succession to the duc d'Audiffret-Pasquier; he was already a member of the Academy of Moral and Political Science. In justification of his policy in opposition he published in 1905 two volumes of his Discours politiques.
Ribot was brought in as prime minister for a few days in June 1914 following the collapse of the Doumergue
Gaston Doumergue
Pierre-Paul-Henri-Gaston Doumergue was a French politician of the Third Republic.Doumergue came from a Protestant family. Beginning as a Radical, he turned more towards the political right in his old age. He served as Prime Minister from 9 December 1913 to 2 June 1914...
government, and returned to power again in March 1917, following the fall of Briand
Aristide Briand
Aristide Briand was a French statesman who served eleven terms as Prime Minister of France during the French Third Republic and received the 1926 Nobel Peace Prize.- Early life :...
. Ribot's final ministry was during the most dismal part of the First World War, seeing the failure of the Nivelle Offensive
Nivelle offensive
The Nivelle Offensive was a 1917 French attack on the Western Front in the First World War. Promised as the assault that would end the war within 48 hours, with casualties expected of around 10,000 men, it failed on both counts. It was a three-stage plan:...
and the famous mutiny of the French soldiers which followed. Dismissed in September and replaced by minister of war Paul Painlevé
Paul Painlevé
Paul Painlevé was a French mathematician and politician. He served twice as Prime Minister of the Third Republic: 12 September – 13 November 1917 and 17 April – 22 November 1925.-Early life:Painlevé was born in Paris....
, Ribot continued as foreign minister for a month before resigning in October.
The main grammar school (lycée) in Saint Omer, the Lycée Alexandre Ribot
Lycée Alexandre Ribot
The Lycée Alexandre Ribot is a school located at 42 rue Gambetta, in the town of Saint-Omer , France. Founded as a Walloon Jesuit college in 1565 , it has been a lycée since 1848...
, bears his name today.
Ribot's 1st Ministry, 6 December 1892 – 11 January 1893
- Alexandre Ribot – President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Charles de FreycinetCharles de FreycinetCharles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet was a French statesman and Prime Minister during the Third Republic; he belonged to the Opportunist Republicans faction. He was elected a member of the Academy of Sciences, and in 1890, the fourteen member to occupy seat the Académie française.-Early years:He...
– Minister of War - Émile LoubetÉmile LoubetÉmile François Loubet was a French politician and the 8th President of France.-Early life:He was born the son of a peasant proprietor and mayor of Marsanne . Admitted to the Parisian bar in 1862, he took his doctorate in law the next year...
– Minister of the Interior - Maurice RouvierMaurice RouvierMaurice Rouvier was a French statesman.He was born in Aix-en-Provence, and spent his early career in business at Marseille. He supported Léon Gambetta's candidature there in 1867, and in 1870 he founded an anti-imperial journal, L'Egalité. Becoming secretary general of the prefecture of...
– Minister of Finance - Léon BourgeoisLéon Bourgeois-Biography:He was born in Paris, and was trained in law. After holding a subordinate office in the department of public works, he became successively prefect of the Tarn and the Haute-Garonne , and then returned to Paris to enter the ministry of the interior...
– Minister of Justice - Auguste Bourdeau – Minister of Marine and Colonies
- Charles DupuyCharles DupuyCharles Alexandre Dupuy was a French statesman, three times prime minister.-Biography:He was born in Le Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire, Auvergne, where his father was a minor official. After a period as a professor of philosophy in the provinces, he was appointed a school inspector, thus obtaining a...
– Minister of Public Instruction, Fine Arts, and Worship - Jules DevelleJules DevelleJules Develle was a French politician. He vwas Minister of Justice and Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1893....
– Minister of Agriculture - Jules Viette – Minister of Public Works
- Jules Siegfried – Minister of Commerce and Industry
Changes
- 13 December 1892 – Pierre TirardPierre TirardPierre Emmanuel Tirard was a French politician.He was born to French parents in Geneva, Switzerland. After studying in his native town, Tirard became a civil engineer. After five years of government service he resigned to become a jewel merchant...
succeeds Rouvier as Minister of Finance.
Ribot's 2nd Ministry, 11 January 1893 – 4 April 1893
- Alexandre Ribot – President of the Council and Minister of the Interior
- Jules DevelleJules DevelleJules Develle was a French politician. He vwas Minister of Justice and Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1893....
– Minister of Foreign Affairs - Jules Léon Loizillon – Minister of War
- Pierre TirardPierre TirardPierre Emmanuel Tirard was a French politician.He was born to French parents in Geneva, Switzerland. After studying in his native town, Tirard became a civil engineer. After five years of government service he resigned to become a jewel merchant...
– Minister of Finance - Léon BourgeoisLéon Bourgeois-Biography:He was born in Paris, and was trained in law. After holding a subordinate office in the department of public works, he became successively prefect of the Tarn and the Haute-Garonne , and then returned to Paris to enter the ministry of the interior...
– Minister of Justice - Adrien Barthélemy Louis Henri Rieunier – Minister of Marine
- Charles DupuyCharles DupuyCharles Alexandre Dupuy was a French statesman, three times prime minister.-Biography:He was born in Le Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire, Auvergne, where his father was a minor official. After a period as a professor of philosophy in the provinces, he was appointed a school inspector, thus obtaining a...
– Minister of Public Instruction, Fine Arts, and Worship - Albert Viger – Minister of Agriculture
- Jules Siegfried – Minister of Commerce, Industry, and the Colonies
Ribot's 3rd Ministry, 26 January 1895 – 1 November 1895
- Alexandre Ribot – President of the Council and Minister of Finance
- Gabriel HanotauxGabriel HanotauxAlbert Auguste Gabriel Hanotaux, known as Gabriel Hanotaux was a French statesman and historian.-Biography:...
– Minister of Foreign Affairs - Émile ZurlindenÉmile ZurlindenÉmile Zurlinden was French Minister of War between 5 September 1898 and 17 September 1898. He succeeded Godefroy Cavaignac. A general, he was previously governor of Paris, and he accepted the vacant post of minister of war at the personal request of the president of the republic...
– Minister of War - Georges LeyguesGeorges LeyguesGeorges Leygues was a French politician of the Third Republic. During his time as Minister of Marine he worked with the navy's chief of staff Henri Salaun in unsuccessful attempts to gain naval re-armament priority for government funding over army rearmament such as the Maginot Line.He was born...
– Minister of the Interior - Ludovic TrarieuxLudovic TrarieuxLudovic Trarieux was a French Republican statesman, prominent Dreyfusard, and pioneer of international human rights.-Early life:...
– Minister of Justice - Armand Louis Charles Gustave Besnard – Minister of Marine
- Raymond PoincaréRaymond PoincaréRaymond Poincaré was a French statesman who served as Prime Minister of France on five separate occasions and as President of France from 1913 to 1920. Poincaré was a conservative leader primarily committed to political and social stability...
– Minister of Public Instruction, Fine Arts, and Worship - Antoine Gadaud – Minister of Agriculture
- Émile Chautemps – Minister of Colonies
- Ludovic Dupuy-Dutemps – Minister of Public Works
- André Lebon – Minister of Posts and Telegraphs and Minister of Commerce and Industry
Ribot's 4th Ministry, 9 June 1914 – 13 June 1914
- Alexandre Ribot – President of the Council and Minister of Justice
- Léon BourgeoisLéon Bourgeois-Biography:He was born in Paris, and was trained in law. After holding a subordinate office in the department of public works, he became successively prefect of the Tarn and the Haute-Garonne , and then returned to Paris to enter the ministry of the interior...
– Minister of Foreign Affairs - Théophile DelcasséThéophile DelcasséThéophile Delcassé was a French statesman.-Biography:He was born at Pamiers, in the Ariège département...
– Minister of War - Paul Peytral – Minister of the Interior
- Étienne Clémentel – Minister of Finance
- Jean-Baptiste Abel – Minister of Labour and Social Security Provisions
- Émile Chautemps – Minister of Marine
- Arthur Dessoyes – Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts
- Adrien Dariac – Minister of Agriculture
- Maurice MaunouryMaurice MaunouryMaurice Maunoury was a French politician born 16 October 1863 in Alexandria and died 16 May 1925 in Paris*Député for Eure-et-Loir from 1910 to 1924*Minister of the Colonies from 9 to 13 June 1914 in the Alexandre Ribot government...
– Minister of Colonies - Jean DupuyJean Dupuy (politician)Jean Dupuy - 31 December 1919, Paris) was a French politician and media owner.-Life:A huissier by profession, he practised in Paris and quickly became interested in the press and in politics, taking over leadership of Le Petit Parisien on the death of Paul Piégut in 1888...
– Minister of Public Works - Marc Réville – Minister of Posts and Telegraphs and Minister of Commerce and Industry
Ribot's 5th Ministry, 20 March 1917 – 12 September 1917
- Alexandre Ribot – President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Paul PainlevéPaul PainlevéPaul Painlevé was a French mathematician and politician. He served twice as Prime Minister of the Third Republic: 12 September – 13 November 1917 and 17 April – 22 November 1925.-Early life:Painlevé was born in Paris....
– Minister of War - Louis MalvyLouis MalvyLouis-Jean Malvy was the Interior Minister of France in 1914.-Biography:He was born on December 1, 1875 in Figeac in 1875. He was a member of the Radical Party and served in the Chamber of Deputies in 1906....
– Minister of the Interior - Joseph Thierry – Minister of Finance
- Albert Thomas – Minister of Armaments and War Manufacturing
- Léon BourgeoisLéon Bourgeois-Biography:He was born in Paris, and was trained in law. After holding a subordinate office in the department of public works, he became successively prefect of the Tarn and the Haute-Garonne , and then returned to Paris to enter the ministry of the interior...
– Minister of Labour and Social Security Provisions - René VivianiRené VivianiJean Raphaël Adrien René Viviani was a French politician of the Third Republic, who served as Prime Minister for the first year of World War I. He was born in Sidi Bel Abbès, in French Algeria. In France he sought to protect the rights of socialists and trade union workers.-Biography:His...
– Minister of Justice - Lucien Lacaze – Minister of Marine
- Théodore SteegThéodore SteegThéodore Steeg was a French politician of the Third Republic, deputy of the Seine from 1906 to 1914 and senator of the same department from 1914 to 1940....
– Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts - Fernand DavidFernand DavidFernand David was the French Minister of Agriculture from 21 January 1913 to 22 March 1913.-References:...
– Minister of Agriculture - Maurice ViolletteMaurice ViolletteMaurice Viollette was a French statesman.He was chief-of-staff for Alexandre Millerand in the Waldeck-Rousseau government in 1898, and was elected as a député for Eure-et-Loir in 1902 and as mayor of Dreux from 1908–1959.He acted as Transport and Supply Minister in 1917, Governor General of...
– Minister of General Supply and Maritime Transports - André MaginotAndré MaginotAndré Maginot was a French civil servant, soldier, and Member of Parliament. He is undoubtedly best known for his advocacy for the string of forts that would be known as the Maginot Line.- Early years, to World War I :...
– Minister of Colonies - Georges Desplas – Minister of Public Works and Transport
- Étienne Clémentel – Minister of Posts and Telegraphs and Minister of Commerce and Industry
Changes
- 4 July 1917 – The office of Minister of Maritime Transports is abolished. Maurice Viollette remains Minister of General Supply.
- 10 August 1917 – Charles Chaumet succeeds Lacaze as Minister of Marine.
- 1 September 1917 – Théodore SteegThéodore SteegThéodore Steeg was a French politician of the Third Republic, deputy of the Seine from 1906 to 1914 and senator of the same department from 1914 to 1940....
succeeds Malvy as Minister of the Interior