Delcassé, Théophile |
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BORN 1 Mar 1852, Pamiers, Ariège - DIED 22 Feb 1923, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes GRAVE LOCATION Paris: Cimetière de Montmartre, 20 Avenue Rachel (division 18, ligne 01, numéro 07 (tombe C. Wallet)) |
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Théophile Delcassé was the son of Laurent Delcassé (1826-1889), a professor of drawing. In 1857 his father remarried after the death of Théophile's mother. Théophile studied at the Faculty of Letters in Toulouse and graduated in 1874. In Paris he worked for the Gambetta's newspaper La République française. He decided to enter politics and was a candidate for parliament in 1885 for Foix, but he withdrew in favour of another candidate. In 1886 the opera singer Rose Caron was his mistress, but in 1887 he married Geneviève Wallet (1850-1925), the widow of the politician Gaston Massip (1842-1885). He entered the Chamber of Deputies in 1889 and remained a deputy for Foix until 1919. In 1893 he was appointed Under-Secretary of State for Colonies and in 1894 he was promoted to Minister of Colonies. In 1898 he was Minister of Foreign Affairs under Henri Brisson. He served in six successive governments until 1905. He was known for his hatred of Germany and a after crisis about Morocco where war had to be evaded, Germany forced his resignation. In 1909 he investigated the French navy and in his report he concluded that it was in disarray. He was appointed Minister of Marine in 1911 under Ernst Monis. He held this post as well under Joseph Caillaux. In 1912 Raymond Poincaré asked him to become prime minister, but he refused and remained Minister of Marine under Poincaré. In 1913 he left his post to run for president but he was beaten by Poincaré. He declined to return as Minister of Marine under Briand. His next post was ambassador to Russia, followed by Minister of War and Minister of Foreign Affairs under Viviani. In 1915 he retired. He died in 1923 in Nice. |
| Images |
 The grave of Théofile Delcassé at the Cimetière Montmartre, Paris. Picture by Androom (20 Feb 2016) |
Sources • Théophile Delcassé - Wikipedia |
