Boulanger, Georges

(1837-1891)

   general, politician

   Born in Rennes and educated at saint-Cyr, Georges Boulanger began his military career serving in Kabylie, in Italy, and in Cochin-China, and fought in the franco-prussian war (1870-71). He was made director of infantry for the Ministry of War, then division commander of troops in Tunisia (1884). Supported by georges Clemenceau and also by the duke d'AUMALE, in 1886 he was named minister of war. The army reforms that he undertook (the law of exile for princes, which affected, among others, the duke d'Aumale, his patron; suppression of draft lottery) and his hostile attitude toward Germany in the Schnaebelé affair (April 1887), however, caused him to be removed from the ministry. Already, there had crystallized around Boulanger a large number of the opposition, with nationalists bent on revenge (Boulanger was given the name "General La Revanche" or General Revenge), Bonapartists, and even monarchists. His departure for Clermond-Ferrand, where he had been named commander of the 13th army corps, was the scene of an important popular demonstration (gare de Lyon). Forced to back down by the government, Boulanger, nonetheless, stood for election. Encouraged by his supporters (déroulède and others) who were members of the Ligue des patriots, he was elected in four departments and then in Paris (January 1889), and was encouraged to attempt a coup d'état. But, in part owing to the influence of his mistress, Mme de Bonnemain, he hesitated, leaving the government time to take measures against him. Accusing him of conspiracy, the minister of the interior threatened him with arrest and ordered the dissolution of the Ligue. Boulanger, who had fled abroad, was condemned in absentia to life in prison. He reached Belgium (April 1889) and spent some time in England before returning to Belgium and committing suicide at the tomb of his mistress, who had died shortly before.