Introduction
Pierre-Paul-Henri-Gaston Doumergue ([ɡastɔ̃ dumɛʁɡ]; 1 August 1863 in Aigues-Vives, Gard – 18 June 1937 in Aigues-Vives) was a French politician of the Third Republic.
Doumergue came from a Protestant family and was a freemason. Beginning as a Radical, he turned more towards the political right in his old age.He served as President of the Council (prime minister) from 9 December 1913 to 2 June 1914.He held the portfolio for the colonies through the ministries of Viviani and Briand until the Ribot ministry of March, 1917, when he was sent to Russia to persuade the Kerensky government not to make a separate peace with Germany and Austria.He was elected the thirteenth President of France on 13 June 1924, the only Protestant to hold that office. He served until13 June 1931, and again was Prime Minister in a conservative national unity government, following the riots of 6 February 1934. This government lasted from 6 February to 8 November 1934.
He was widely regarded as one of the most popular French Presidents, particularly after highly controversial Alexandre Millerand, who was his predecessor. Doumergue was single when elected, and became the first President of France to marry in office.
According to "Rail Tales of the Unexpected" (Kenneth Westcott Jones, David St John Thomas, Nairn, 1992), Doumerge was involved in an unusual railway incident in the autumn of 1926.Travelling to Germany on the Orient Express around 1 am he accidentally opened an external door and fell from the train. His disappearance was not noticeduntil the train was approaching Augsburg. Eventually his whereabouts was ascertained and he was brought by car to rejoin his party. After falling out he first made contact with a signalman along the track. The signalman was reportedly unimpressed by the dishevelled elderly gentleman in night attire claiming to be the President of France. The signalman is reported to have responded with "And I'm the Emperor Napoleon!".Doumerge suffered only minor cuts and bruises.
Doumergue's First Ministry, 9 December 1913 – 9 June 1914
- Gaston Doumergue – President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Joseph Noulens – Minister of War
- René Renoult – Minister of the Interior
- Joseph Caillaux – Minister of Finance
- Albert Métin – Minister of Labour and Social Security Provisions
- Jean-Baptiste Bienvenu-Martin – Minister of Justice
- Ernest Monis – Minister of the Marine
- René Viviani – Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts
- Maurice Raynaud – Minister of Agriculture
- Albert Lebrun – Minister of Colonies
- Fernand David – Minister of Public Works
- Louis Malvy – Minister of Commerce, Industry, Posts, and Telegraphs
Changes
- 17 March 1914 – René Renoult succeeds Caillaux as Finance Minister.Louis Malvy succeeds Renoult as Minister of the Interior.Raoul Péret succeeds Malvy as Minister of Commerce, Industry, Posts, and Telegraphs.
- 20 March 1914 – Armand Gauthier de l'Aude succeeds Monis as Minister of Marine.
Doumergue's Second Ministry, 9 February – 8 November 1934
- Gaston Doumergue – President of the Council
- Louis Barthou – Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Philippe Pétain – Minister of War
- Albert Sarraut – Minister of the Interior
- Louis Germain-Martin – Minister of Finance
- Adrien Marquet – Minister of Labour
- Henri Chéron – Minister of Justice
- François Piétri – Minister of Military Marine
- William Bertrand – Minister of Merchant Marine
- Victor Denain – Minister of Air
- Aimé Berthod – Minister of National Education
- Georges Rivollet – Minister of Pensions
- Henri Queuille – Minister of Agriculture
- Pierre Laval – Minister of Colonies
- Pierre Étienne Flandin – Minister of Public Works
- Louis Marin – Minister of Public Health and Physical Education
- André Mallarmé – Minister of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones
- Lucien Lamoureux – Minister of Commerce and Industry
- Édouard Herriot – Minister of State
- André Tardieu – Minister of State
Changes
- 13 October 1934 – Pierre Laval succeeds Barthou (assassinated 9 October) as Minister of Foreign Affairs.Paul Marchandeau succeeds Sarraut as Minister of the Interior.Louis Rollin succeeds Laval as Minister of Colonies.
- 15 October 1934 – Henri Lémery succeeds Chéron as Minister of Justice.