Faure, François Félix

Faure, François Félix (1841-1899), French politician, sixth President (1895-1899) of France's Third Republic. Faure was born in Paris and was apprenticed to a tanner. In about 1862 he moved to Le Havre where he became a wealthy leather merchant. Faure fought in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871.

Faure's political career began in 1881, with his election to the French Chamber of Deputies. He became under-secretary of state for French colonies under Jules Ferry from 1882 to 1885, serving in his Cabinet until 1894. Following President Jean Casimir-Perier's resignation that year, Faure was elected to the presidency of the Third Republic, taking office in January 1895. As president he was very popular but took no significant part in politics until the last years of his life, when he attempted to block a retrial of army captain Alfred Dreyfus, who had been imprisoned on a false charge of treason in the Dreyfus Affair. Faure died suddenly in Paris in February 1899, and a confrontation between pro- and anti-Dreyfus demonstrators disturbed his funeral.