Georges Baker

Military career

Wire of Breton and a Welshwoman, it makes her studies with Nantes. After having made its studies with Saint-Cyr military school, from where it leaves in 1856, it takes part in the campaigns of Kabylie as lieutenant of turcos . In 1859 it takes part in the countryside of Italy. A wound with the chest with Robecchetto idiot Induno is worth the to him Légion of honor.

In 1861, it takes part in the Campagne of Cochinchine against Tự Đức. It is again wounded with Traï-daN of a blow of lance to the thigh. Of return in France in 1864, he marries a cousin, Lucie Renouard.

In 1866 he becomes captain-instructor with the school of Saint-Cyr military school. The war of 1870 sees it promoted Major following heroic acts. New wound with the battle of Champigny at the time of the defense of Paris.

It receives the command of the 114e regiment of infantry of line to the head of which it takes part in the repression of the Commune of Paris. It is still wounded the May 24th at the time of the catch of the the Pantheon of Paris, which prevents it from taking part in the bloody Semaine which puts an end to the Commune of Paris. Quoted in the report/ratio of the marshal of Mac-Mahon, it is promoted Commandeur Légion of honor the June 24th 1871.

But its advance is considered to be too fast by the military authorities. In 1872, the Commission of revision of the ranks retrogresses it Lieutenant-colonel and its resignation is refused to him. He is second in command of the 109 {{E}} then 133e regiment of infantry of line. In 1874 he becomes colonel of this last, with for superior the duke of Aumale - a son of Louis-Philippe - with which he must be named general in 1880.

It is promoted with the head of the 14th brigade of cavalry. In 1881, it represents France at the time of the festivals of the Centenary of American Independence with Yorktown (Virginia), and found the Count Dillon there.

In 1882, the Minister for the War, the general Billot names it directing of the Infantry. At this point in time it will establish reforms which will make it popular. Two years later, it becomes Major general and orders the body of occupation of the Tunisia.

Political career

Minister for the War

Familiar of Georges Clémenceau - one of her school-fellows of the college of Nantes - this one imposed it on Freycinet as Minister for the War in the cabinet that this last formed the January 7th 1886.

Its reforms - as the authorization of the port of the Barb - make popular in the soldiers. He manages to pacify the crisis of the mines of Decazeville.

In May 1886, the oldest daughter of Philippe of Orleans (1838-1894), Marie-Amélie, is promised in marriage in large pump with the crown prince to the Portugal. Publicity around this engagement runs up against the government which proposes a law of expulsion of the princes applicants which is voted by the Room. The Boulanger general is then constrained to notify with the duke of Aumale his radiation of the executives of the army.

The popularity of Baker does not cease growing and it becomes the central point of the review of the July 14th 1886 - which celebrated also the return of the forwarding of the Tonkin. It is celebrated by the song of Paulus, While returning from the Review .

It is not long in traversing France for inaugurations, speeches, etc the September 17th, with Libourne, it is characterized by a quarrelsome speech - “We can finally give up the sad defensive policy; France must from now on pursue the offensive policy highly”. It is not long in representing the image of the “General Revenge”.

The amendment of a deputy on the removal of the sub-prefects makes fall the government on December 3rd, but Goblet succeeding Freycinet is obliged to take again Boulanger. If the radicals give up the government, the conservatives give their support to him.

As of the beginning, it seems to cumulate the provocations towards Germany: erection of hutments in the area of Belfort, prohibition to export horses, prohibition of the representation of Lohengrin , etc which leads Germany to convene more 70 000 reservists in February. Finally the April 20th 1887 occurs the Affaire Schnaebelé. Only difficulties within each government make it possible to avoid the war. From now on Boulanger seems dangerous for the government.

The May 17th 1887, because of an article of budget, the Goblet government falls with the great relief of the members of Parliament. The May 31st is formed a new cabinet, is carried out by Rouvier and not including/understanding Boulanger - the Général Ferron receives the ministry for the War. At this point in time will be born the movement boulangist.

Chief of the movement boulangist

See also: Boulangisme

Without presenting its candidature - but with the call of Rochefort - 100 000 bulletins bear the name of Baker at the time of a by-election of the Seine. The presence of the general not ceasing being growing, the government “dismisses it” by naming it ordering 13th army corps to Clermont-Ferrand. Its departure the July 8th gives place to a demonstration of crowd: 10 000 people invade the Gare de Lyon, cover the train of posters “It will return” and block its departure during more than three hours and half.

Occurs the Scandale of decorations in which Boulanger is a time blamed. However president Grévy must resign the December 2nd and Boulanger becomes a key actor of the negociations to elect his successor, the monarchists offering their voice to the candidate committing himself taking Boulanger as Minister for the War. With final it is Sadi Carnot which is elected president and, fascinating Tirard as principal private secretary, it refuses the access of Baker to the ministry.

January 1st 1888 the general had a secret interview, in Switzerland, with the Prince Napoleon, giving the support Bonapartist to him. For the election of the next February 26th, the candidature of the general, presented like Bonapartist, is posed in seven departments in which it obtains 54 671 votes. However the general, being in activity, was ineligible. The March 15th, the Logerot general, Minister for the War raises it of its functions and, the March 24th, Boulanger are striped executives of the Army and are broken of its rank. From now on, nothing is opposed to its entry in policy. In April, it is presented to the elections in the Dordogne and in North where it receives 59 respectively; 000 and 172 500 votes. An important crowd attends her entry with the House of Commons the next on July 12th. Many caricatures of press illustrate the crisis. As of the 13, it fights in duel against Charles Floquet, the President of the Council, which wounds it.

Baker was not long in receiving the financing of the duchess of Uzès, in the name of prince Philippe of Orleans (3 franc million). In August, Boulanger presented itself again to several elections and was elected in North, the Sum and Charente-Lower. Boulangistes are not long in introducing a candidate in each department.

The tension is with its height when Boulanger presents itself to Paris to replace Hude, deputy deceased on a program in three words: “ Dissolution, Revision, Constituent ”. Its adversaries oppose to him the president of the General advice of the Seine, Jacques. The January 27th 1889 Boulanger obtains 244 000 votes against 160 000 with its adversary. Baker celebrates the victory with the coffee Durand, place of the Madeleine in the presence of 50 000 people. Some challenge Boulanger to take the Elysium. Baker does not do it, his supporters are disappointed and poked fears of his adversaries, from now on the latter will be harnessed to discredit it.

The Minister of Interior Department, Ernest Constant, ingénia to worry Baker. Initially it continued the League of the Patriots, one of the supports of Baker, under the terms of a law on the secret societies. Then it informs Boulanger that an order of arrest must be carried against him on April 1st and that the same day the Minister of Interior Department will request from the Room the lifting of his parliamentary privilege. Worried, Boulanger flees with Brussels - escape supported by the ministry. April 4th, a vote of 333 votes against 190 raises its parliamentary privilege. Baker is continued for “plot against interior safety” but also for diversion of the public money, corruption and corrupt practice. August 14th the Senate joined together in High court condemns Boulanger, Rochefort and the count Dillon with “the deportation in a strengthened enclosure”.

From now on Boulanger accompanied by his mistress Mrs. de Bonnemains lives in exile in Belgium where it is found cumbersome. July 15th, 1891 Mrs. de Bonnemains dies of disease and it commits suicide three months later of a blow of revolver on the tomb of the latter to the Cimetière of Ixelles on September 30th, 1891.

Appendix

Military reforms of Baker

As director of the Infantry

Introduction of cod of ordinary,
Application of the law on goes up captains,
Adoption of the overall of fabric,
Suppression of the retirement of the evening,
Adoption of the havresac new model,
Unification of the types of guérite and paintings to the colors main road of these shelters,
permanent Autorisation of the opera cloaks and port of the beard for the re-engaged warrant officers,
Vélocipédisation of the army,

As Minister for the War

Reorganization of the Staff,
Adoption of Lebel rifle,
Institution of new colonial troops (Annamites),
Reorganization of military ballooning,
Reorganization of the genius,
Reorganization of the monitoring of the borders,
Reorganization of the service of against-espionage,
Improvement of ordinary,
Authorization of the port of the sword to the re-engaged warrant officers

Replacement of the mess tin by plates,
Right to have forks,
Replacement of the straw mattresses by diagrids,

Suppression of the military exemptions for the young making middle-class men of the studies
Suppression of the military exemptions for the ecclesiastics (“the priests bag with the back”).

Quotations and short phrases

“Per hour that it is, each soldier divides with a minor his soup and its ration of bread” (Baker, at the time of the strike of Decazeville).
“a Saint-Arnaud of café concert” (Jules Ferry, about Baker).
“Midnight five. For five minutes the boulangism has been in fall. ” (Thièbaud, one of the principal boulangists, after the refusal of coup d'etat at the evening of January 27th, 1889).
“died as he lived, as a second lieutenant” (Clemenceau, with the news of died of Baker)

Songs on Baker

While Returning from the Review , With bottom… Bismarck and lives Boulanger , Our general beloved .

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