Doumergue, Gaston

(1863-1937)

   statesman

   Born in Aigues-Vives, Gard, to an old huguenot family, Gaston Doumergue studied law in Paris and, in 1885, became an attorney in Nîmes, then served as a judge in indochina and in Algeria. Known for his impartiality and fairness, he was elected as a Radical deputy in 1893, and was several times named a minister between 1902 and 1917 (in particular for colonies and for foreign affairs) and was also premier (1913-14). Elected president of the republic after the Cartel des gauches victory and the resignation of Alexandre millerand (1924), Dou-mergue retired from politics at the end of his term (1931), but was recalled after the political unrest of February 1934 and formed a government of national union. This drew the opposition of the Left because of his support for constitutional reform (strengthening the executive power) and he had to resign in November of that year.