Jules Franois Camille Ferry
FranceBiography of Jules Francois Camille Ferry
Jules Francois Camille Ferry (1832-1893) was a French politician who served as the Prime Minister of France. He was born on April 5, 1832 in Saint-Die. Ferry received a legal education and later became a journalist, traveling extensively throughout Europe.
Political Career
In 1869, Ferry was elected as a deputy from Paris to the Legislative Corps and became one of the leaders of the opposition. In July 1870, he opposed the declaration of war against Prussia. After the September Revolution of 1870, Ferry served as the secretary of the government of national defense, and from November 1870, he became the mayor of Paris. He played a role in suppressing the Parisian uprising in January 1871 and fled to Versailles during the Paris Commune.
From 1879 to 1883, Ferry held the position of Minister of Education, and from 1883 to 1885, he served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He became the Prime Minister of France twice, first from September 1880 to November 1881, and then from February 1883 to March 1885.
Contributions and Legacy
Ferry introduced a system of free compulsory primary education in France. As the Prime Minister, he played a significant role in the revival of the French colonial empire. Under his leadership, France seized Tunisia in 1881 and began the conquest of Madagascar. The French territories also expanded in the Congo and Niger river valleys, as well as in Annam, Tonkin, Somaliland, Upper Senegal, and Polynesia.
Jules Francois Camille Ferry passed away in Paris on March 17, 1893. He left behind a legacy of educational reforms and a significant impact on French colonial expansion.
