Loubet, Émile

(1838-1929)

   political figure

   A president of the third republic, Émile Loubet was born in Marsanne, Drôme. He began his political life as a moderate republican deputy (1876-85), was a member of the Senate (1885-99), and served as its president (1896). He served as minister of public works (1887-88), then as minister of the interior (1892-93), and was elected to the presidency of the republic upon the death of félix fauré (1899). Believing in the innocence of alfred dreyfus and, in spite of anti-Dreyfusard threats (he was himself attacked at the Auteuil race course), he pardoned Captain Dreyfus in August 1899. Loubet's term (1899-1906) was marked by the anticlericalism of the PIERRE WALDECK-ROUSSEAU and ÉMILE COMBES ministries, and by important diplomatic activity (visit of Czar Nicholas II to France in 1901; Loubet visited Russia in 1902; King Edward VII of England visited France in 1903), which contributed to a rap-proachment among France, Russia, England, and also Italy. After his term ended, Loubet retired from political life.