Casimir-Perier

Casimir-Perier, JEAN PIERRE PAUL, President of the French Republic, is the son of C. Perier (q.v.), and was born at Paris, 8th November 1847. He was trained for a political career, but in 1871 was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, for military services rendered during the siege of Paris. Elected a deputy in 1874, and distinguished as a moderate republican of great firmness of character, he was successively under-secretary for instruction and for war, vice-president of the Chamber (1885-93), and president of the Chamber (1893). Premier of France for six months in 1893-94, he was again president of the Chamber, when, on the assassination of M. Carnot (June 1894), he was called to become President of the Republic—an office he resigned in January 1895.