Ion Brătianu (1864-1927)

Ion Brătianu (1864-1927), Romanian statesman, son of Ion Brătianu, born in Florica. He and his brothers Vintilă and Dinu were leaders of the Liberal party. Ion was elected to the Romanian Parliament in 1895 and given a ministry post in the Liberal cabinet of Dimitrie Sturdza in 1896. From 1909 to 1911 Brătianu served as premier (with a short interruption in 1910). Returned to the premiership in 1913, he was head of the government when World War I began and brought his country into the war on the side of the Allies in 1916. Following the defeat of the Romanian armies, he refused to accede to the peace terms imposed by the victorious Central Powers, and on January 29, 1918, he resigned. He formed a new government in December 1918 and served until September 1919, when he again resigned. As head of the Liberal party, representing the wealthy, conservative interests in Romania, he led the opposition to the government until January 1922, when he organized his fifth government. Although he initiated certain reforms, including universal suffrage and nationalization of the forests and mineral resources, he ruled as virtual dictator of Romania until his death. His brother Vintilă succeeded him as prime minister but was forced out of office the following year.