Patrice of Mac-Mahon

Biography

Irish origin

Mac-Mahon went down from an Irish family, part for the exile with Jacques II and claiming descent of former kings d' Irlande.

Beginnings

Left the Military academy of Saint-Cyr military school, it entered the army in 1827 and was useful initially at the time of the forwarding of Algiers, where it was pointed out by its capacity and its bravery. Recalled in France, it again drew the attention at the time of the Expédition of Antwerp in 1832. It became Capitaine in 1833 and this year returned in Algérie. It carried out raids of Cavalerie daring through the plains occupied by the Bedouins and was distinguished with the seat from Constantine in 1837. Since this date until 1855 it was almost constantly in Algeria and reached the Major general rank of .

Marriage and children

He marries with Paris the March 13rd 1854 Elisabeth of the Cross of Castries.

From this union will be born 4 children:

Patrice (1855-1927), 2nd Duke of Magenta
Eugene (1857-1907)
Emmanuel (1859-1930)
Marie (1863-1954)

Crimean War, Sébastopol

During the Crimean War one gave him the command of a division and, in September 1855, it successfully conducted the attack on the strengthened works of Malakoff, where it pronounced its famous there “I am there, I remain there! ”, which leads to the fall of Sébastopol.

Senator, winner in Algeria

After its return in France, it was filled honors and fact senator. Wishing however a more active life, he refused the supreme command of the French troops and was once again sent, on his request, in Algeria, where he overcame Kabyles completely. Of return in France, he voted as senator against the unconstitutional law on the general safety, which was proposed after the assassination attempt of Orsini against the life of the emperor.

Magenta: Marshal of France

He was distinguished particularly at the time of the countryside of Italy of 1859. Half per chance, half by audacity and sense of smell, it pushed its troops ahead without to have received orders at one critical time at the time of the battle of Magenta, which ensured the French victory. For these brilliances services, it accepted from Napoleon III the stick of marshal and was titrated duke of Magenta.

Governor in Algeria

In 1861, it represented France with the crowning of Guillaume 1 {{er}} of Prussia and, in 1864, was named general governor of Algeria. Its action in this station represents the episode less successful of its career. Although it had actually implemented some reforms in the colonies, the complaints were so numerous that twice in first half of 1870 it presented its resignation to Napoleon III. When the cabinet Ollivier, which was so badly to finish, was formed, the emperor gave up his Algerian projects and Mac-Mahon was pointed out.

1870-1871.

It took part in the Franco-German Guerre of 1870, essuya several defeats in Alsace and at the time of the Bataille of Sedan where it was wounded as of the beginning of the engagements. It is made prisoner at the time of the capitulation of Sedan. In 1871, it was named with the head of the army known as “of Versailles” which severely repressed the Commune of Paris by killing 30 000 people, imprisoning 38.000 and off-setting with the Bagne 7 000 others.

President of the Republic

Carried by its popularity, he is elected president of the Republic after the fall of Adolphe Thiers the May 24th 1873, and projects a restoration of the Monarchie, after having dismissed the Prime Minister to replace it by a monarchist. But the failure of this restoration leads it to vote the presidential Septennat. With the duke Albert de Broglie as president of the Council, it takes series of measure for the moral Ordre; but it is not with him that one owes the septennate; they are the deputies who voted it because they hoped that in the seven years to come the problem from fusion would be solved by the death of the count de Chambord (“While waiting for that likes it God to open the eyes of the count de Chambord… or to close them to him”, said one in the orleanists mediums).

The Parliament having on November 9th, 1873 fixed her mandate at seven years, after the adoption of the proposed amendment by the deputy Walloon Henri, it declared in a marked speech on February 4th, 1874 that it could during seven years make respect the legally established order. Preferring to remain above the parties, it assisted rather than it did not take there taken share with the procedures which, in January and February of 1875, led to the fundamental laws which established finally the Republic like the legal government of France. However Mac-Mahon was to write in its memories always new: “By my tradition of family and because of the feelings which my education had inculcated to me as of more the young age towards the royal house, I could not be other thing only legitimist. ” It is with loathing that he agreed in 1876 to the formation of the cabinets Dufaure and Jules Simon, dominated by the Republicans.

When the episcopal mandements of the bishops of Poitiers, Nimes and Nevers, recommending to the sympathy of the French government the case of the captive pope Black and white IX, were followed of a resolution of the Room proposed by the left and requiring of the Government “to repress the ultramontane demonstrations” (May 4th, 1877), Mac-Mahon, twelve days later, required of Jules Simon to resign and constituted a preserving ministry under the direction of the duke of Broglie; it convainquit the Senate to dissolve the Room and went on a journey through the country to ensure the success of the Conservatives the elections, while protesting which it did not wish to reverse the Republic. It is what one called “the blow of May 16th”. However, the following elections of October 14th gave to the left a majority of 120 seats and the ministry of Broglie resigned on November 19th. Mac Mahon initially tried to form a government of civils servant directed by the general of Rochebouët, but the Room having refused to come into contact with him, Rochebouët resigned as of the following day and the president saw himself constrained to point out Dufaure, with the head of a ministry of left. He preserved his station until 1878, to allow political peace during the World Fair but, the senatorial elections of January 5th, 1879, having now delivered this assembly to the left, Mac-Mahon which did not lay out any more a any parliamentary support preferred to resign on January 30th, 1879 and Jules Grévy succeeded to him.

Death

He dies the October 8th 1893 with the castle of the Forest, close to Montargis, after having undertaken the drafting of his memories. He will be buried the October 22nd with the Invalides, after state funeral.

Quotations

Mac-Mahon remained famous for a certain number of declarations, said MacMahonneries, probably not all authentic:

At the time of the Crimean War which opposed France and the United Kingdom to Russia, Mac-Mahon took the position of Malakoff. A British emissary who entreated it to leave the place, which it mined, Mac-Mahon said answered, inventing the formula: “I am there, I remain there”. It remained and did not jump.

By seeing floods which struck the town of Moissac: “That of water! That of water! And still, one sees only the top of them”.

“the Typhoid fever is a terrible disease. Or one dies about it, or one remains idiotic about it. And I know what I speak, I had it”.

Whereas it was going to review the pupils of the military special École of Saint-Cyr military school, Mac-Mahon was informed that the soldier more the brilliance of promotion (Camille Mortenol) was black of skin. At the military academy of Saint-Cyr military school the negro word is remainder used since the XIXe century to appoint the major, i.e. the pupil more the brilliance of promotion. Arrived in front of him, and whereas it was obviously difficult not to recognize the soldier, Mac-Mahon asked him: “Is Ah it you the Nègre? ”. And to court of words, he added: “Very well, continue! ”.

Sources

Leon Laforge, Histoire supplements of Mac Mahon, Marshal of France, duke of Magenta (1808 - 1893): According to original documents and official parts , Paris: Lamulle and Poisson, 1898.
Gabriel de Broglie: Mac Mahon , Paris: Perrin, 2000. ISBN 2-262-01143-5

See too

Which occurred Mac-Mahon

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