Pierre Tirard Explained

Pierre Tirard
Order:Prime Minister of France
Term Start2:12 December 1887
Term End2:3 April 1888
President2:Sadi Carnot
Predecessor2:Maurice Rouvier
Successor2:Charles Floquet
Term Start1:22 February 1889
Term End1:17 March 1890
President1:Sadi Carnot
Predecessor1:Charles Floquet
Successor1:Charles de Freycinet
Birth Date:27 September 1827
Birth Place:Geneva
Death Place:Paris
Party:None

Pierre Emmanuel Tirard (in French pronounced as /pjɛʁ emanɥɛl tiʁaʁ/; 27 September 1827 – 4 November 1893) was a French politician, who served twice as Prime Minister during the Third Republic.

Biography

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. His determined opposition to the empire, culminating in 1869 in a campaign in favour of the radical candidate opposed to Ollivier, was rewarded by his election as mayor of the 11th arrondissement of Paris and as deputy for the Seine. Nominated a member of the Commune, he protested against the tyranny of the central committee, and escaped from Paris to resume his place among the extreme Left in the National Assembly at Versailles.

In 1876 he was returned for the 1st arrondissement of Paris to the Chamber of Deputies, and was re-elected next year. He specially devoted himself to finance, being for a short time president of the customs commission before his appointment as minister of agriculture and commerce in March 1879 in the Waddington cabinet. He held the same portfolio in the first Freycinet ministry (1879–1880) and in the Jules Ferry cabinet (1880–1881). He was minister of commerce in Freycinet's second cabinet (1882), of finance under E Duclerc (1882–1883), and under A Fallières (1883), retaining the same office in the second Jules Ferry ministry (1883–1885).

When Carnot became president of the Republic in 1887 he asked Tirard to form a ministry. He had to deal with the Wilson scandal which had led to President Jules Grévy's downfall, and with the revisionist agitation of General Boulanger. His refusal to proceed to the revision of the constitution of 1875 led to his defeat on 30 March 1888. He returned to power next year, and decided to bring Boulanger and his chief supporters before the High Court, but the general's flight effectively settled the question. He also arrested Philippe, Duke of Orleans, who had visited France in disguise. He resigned office on 15 March 1890 on the question of the Franco-Turkish commercial treaty. He replaced Maurice Rouvier in Alexandre Ribot's cabinet (1892–1893) as minister of finance, and died in Paris.

Tirard’s 1st Ministry, 12 December 1887 – 3 April 1888

Changes

Tirard’s 2nd Ministry, 22 February 1889 – 17 March 1890

Changes

References

Attribution