Mary Carnot The engineer who became the President of France Date of Birth: 11.08.1837 Country: France

1. Engineer who became President of France
2. Early Life and Education
3. Political Career
4. Presidency

Engineer who became President of France

Marie François Carnot was a French engineer and politician who served as the President of France from 1887 to 1894. He was the grandson of General Lazare Carnot and the nephew of the renowned physicist Sadi Carnot. He received a rare name in honor of his uncle. His father, Hippolyte Lazare Carnot, was also a politician.

Early Life and Education

Carnot received his education at the Lycée Condorcet, the Polytechnic School, and the School of Public Works. He was sent to Upper Savoy to oversee public works in the region, which had recently been annexed by France. During the war in 1870, Carnot offered his services to the temporary government and presented them with a model of his improved machine gun. He served under Léon Gambetta until January 1871 when Gambetta appointed him as the prefect of Lower Seine and the extraordinary commissioner of the departments of Lower Seine, Eure, and Calvados.

Political Career

Carnot played an active role in the defense of the region during the Franco-Prussian War. He worked with General Louis Faidherbe to prepare the defenses of Le Havre and developed a plan for fortifications that was approved by experts. However, when the government of Jules Simon, which favored an immediate peace agreement, replaced the ministers who supported continuing the war, Carnot resigned.

In 1871, Carnot was elected as a member of the National Assembly. He voted against the Frankfurt Treaty and was one of the 107 members who refused to sanction the cession of Alsace and Lorraine. He joined the Republican Left and served as one of its secretaries. In 1873, he was elected as a member of the commission to verify the execution of the 1869 budget. He also served as a permanent member of the General Council in his home department starting from 1871.

Carnot was elected as a deputy in the Chamber of Deputies in 1876. In 1876 and 1877, he served as a member of the budget committee and was the rapporteur for the public works budget. He participated in the manifesto of the left-wing groups in the Chamber during the crisis that began on May 16, 1877, and voted no confidence in the cabinet of Jules Grevy in the "363" vote.

In August 1878, Carnot was appointed as the associate minister of public works, and in September 1880, he became the Minister of Public Works in the cabinet of Jules Ferry, a position he held until November 1881. In 1883, he was elected as the chairman of the budget committee and served as one of the vice-presidents of the Chamber from 1883 to 1885. When the Brisson cabinet was formed in April 1885, Carnot was appointed as the Minister of Public Works, but he soon had to replace Clamageran as the Minister of Finance, a position he held in the Freycinet cabinet as well.

Carnot's honesty and straightforwardness were evident in his approach to the country's finances. Unlike his predecessors, he openly acknowledged the deficit and the need to cover it through savings and loans. However, his budget for 1887 faced strong opposition and was not approved by the Chamber, which led to his resignation. Nevertheless, this did not diminish Carnot's high standing in the eyes of the Republican majority, who appreciated his honesty and firmness. He was re-elected as the chairman of the budget committee.

Presidency

Carnot's seven-year presidency played a significant role in the history of the Third Republic of France. In terms of domestic policy, his presidency was characterized by the consolidation of the republican system. The hostile elements that emerged during the Boulanger crisis in 1888-1889, which posed a threat to the republic, quickly subsided, and their final failure made the republic even more popular among the population. Despite unfavorable events such as the "Panama Scandals" in 1892-1893 and the sharp manifestations of anarchism in 1893, which could have caused significant complications under different circumstances, the strength of the republic remained unshaken.

In the field of foreign policy, Carnot's presidency marked an increase in the international importance and prestige of France. This was primarily reflected in the country's departure from its previous isolated position and its close alliance with Russia, known as the Franco-Russian Alliance. The alliance was solidified by the demonstrative visit of the French fleet to Kronstadt in 1891 and the reciprocal visit of the Russian fleet to Toulon in 1893.

Although Carnot's personal influence on domestic and foreign policy was limited by the constitutional role assigned to the President, he faithfully fulfilled his duties and represented the republic with dignity before the French people and Europe. Unlike Grevy, who rarely ventured outside his seclusion, Carnot actively participated in public life. He attended public ceremonies, supported socially beneficial projects, provided assistance to the population during disasters, and frequently traveled to different parts of France.

Carnot's popularity was evident in the expressions of sadness and sympathy that followed his tragic death. On June 24, 1894, after delivering a welcoming speech at an exhibition in Lyon, he was fatally stabbed by an Italian anarchist named Sante Geronimo Caserio. He passed away during the night. Carnot's funeral was held at the state's expense, and his body was buried in the Pantheon.

Carnot died a few months before the expiration of his term, which was set to end on December 3, 1894. Despite having significant chances of being re-elected, Carnot decided not to run for a second term, believing that the re-election of the same person as the President did not correspond to the spirit of France's democratic institutions. Carnot's life was tragically cut short at the age of 57.