Armand Fallières

Clément Armand Fallières (Mézin, Lot-et-Garonne, November 6th 1841 - id. June 22nd 1931) is a statesman French, whose career culminated with its election with the presidency of the French Republic the February 18th 1906.

Biography

Its beginnings

Resulting from a modest family, with a grandfather Blacksmith and a father Land-surveyor-geometrician and Bailiff, he becomes lawyer with Nérac after studies of right to Toulouse and Paris. The January 14th 1868 it marries with the town hall of Nérac Jeanne Bresson which will give him two children; the same year he is elected member of the municipal council of Nérac, of which he becomes mayor in 1871, also entering to the General advice of Lot-et-Garonne.

In 1876 it enters to the National Assembly like deputy of Lot-et-Garonne and sits among the republicans of left. May 18th, 1877 it belongs to the 363 members of Parliament who vote the motion of censure against the duke of Broglie. After the dissolution of the Parliament by Mac-Mahon the new elections are a victory for the left and Fallières finds its seat.

From May in September 1877 he is again mayor of Nérac. He is Secretary of State inside in the cabinet Jules Ferry (May 1880 - November 1881) then Minister of Interior Department from August 7th, 1882 to January 29th, 1883. He had been in charge of the Worships starting from September 13rd.

President of the Republic

Elected official the February 18th 1906, it succeeds Emile Loubet by gaining the victory vis-a-vis Paul Doumer of 78 votes. He becomes thus the 8th president of IIIe République. In 1912, it founds the insulator which makes it possible to organize the secret votes.

In 1907, at the time of its official trip in Lot-et-Garonne, it inaugurates the memorial of Léopold Faye in Marmande. Léopold Faye (born in 1828 and deceased in 1900) had been mayor, then general adviser of Marmande, general adviser and President of the General advice of Lot-et-Garonne between 1871 and 1874.

During its presidency he works with the reinforcement of Triple Alliance and, in 1908, goes to visit to the United Kingdom; in May 1911 it was in Belgium and in July of the same year in the Netherlands; these two visits of State took place at the time of the 2nd Moroccan crisis (Takeover by force of Agadir), whereas the French troops had started to occupy Morocco.

End of its life

In 1913, at the end of its mandate, it withdraws presidency of the French Republic. He dies the June 22nd 1931 in his residence of Loupillon at the 90 years age.

Anecdote

He had the reputation (quite unmerited) not to be very intelligent. What gave place to a quite sour song:

Mézin, Lot-et-Garonne, would be blessed,

Ville which proves that a good citizen

Doué by the Sky with parsimony

should never despair of nothing.

And it finished as follows:

“Lives Doumer! ” is a true war cry

“Vive Mascaraud! ” appears exaggerated.

And this is why Mr Fallières is essential

Each one should find it with its taste

Because it amounts shouting something

Of equivalent to “Sharp nothing the whole! ”.

Electoral mandates

May 1871 with 1874 and of May 1877 at September 1877: mayor of Nérac
1871 - 1886: general adviser of Nérac
1883 - 1886: chairs General advice of Lot-et-Garonne
1876 - 1889: republican deputy of Nérac
1890 - 1906: senator, then president of the Senate starting from 1899
January 18th, 1906: elected official chair Republic against Paul Doumer.

Governmental functions

Under-secretary of State inside and with the Worships from May 17th, 1880 to November 14th, 1881 in the governments Charles de Freycinet (1) and Jules Ferry (1)
Minister of Interior Department from August 7th to September 13rd, 1882 in the Government Charles Duclerc
Minister of Interior Department and Worships from September 13rd, 1882 to February 21st, 1883 in the governments Charles Duclerc and Armand Fallières
President of the Council and Foreign Minister (by interim) from January 29th to February 21st, 1883 in the Government Armand Fallières
Minister of the State education and the Art schools from November 20th, 1883 to April 6th, 1885 in the Government Jules Ferry (2)
Minister of Interior Department from May 30th to December 12th, 1887 in the Government Maurice Rouvier (1)
Minister for the Justice from November 30th, 1887 to April 3rd, 1888 in the governments Maurice Rouvier (1) (by interim) and Pierre Tirard (1)
Minister for the State education and the Art schools from February 22nd, 1889 to March 17th, 1890 in the Government Pierre Tirard (2)
Minister for the Justice and the Worships from March 17th, 1890 to February 27th, 1892 in the Government Charles de Freycinet (4)

During the Fallières years

The beginning of the 20th century saw appearing lighting with gas then electricity, the running water, the car and the railway network. But still…

a workman gains on average 1.100 Francs Net annual.
In 1901, of many children dies in low age, each woman raises on average two children.
the fundamental knowledge - reading, writing, calculation - constitutes the luggage of the greatest number. In 1902, a reform adapts secondary education to the needs for the modern life while allotting to sciences and the foreign languages the place which was hitherto refused to them.
After the certificate of studies, more half of the children enter the working life as of 13 or 14 years. A great majority joined his/her parents in the agricultural sector, some with the factory or in domestic service, a third continues studies.
Until the middle of the 20th century in rural environment, the occitan and the patois are used the every day.

Homages

The college of Mezin and the agricultural college of Nérac bear today the name of Armand Fallières. ----

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