Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet

Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet (1828-1923), French statesman and author. Freycinet was born at Foix (Ariège), France. He studied at the École Polytechnique in Paris training to become an engineer. During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and 1871 he was closely associated with Léon Gambetta, who played a leading part in the formation of France’s Third Republic. After the war, Freycinet entered politics with Gambetta's support. He was elected senator in 1876, retaining his seat until 1920. As minister of public works from 1877 to 1879, he developed a system of internal communications in France. Freycinet was president of the Council and minister of foreign affairs from 1879 to 1880 and again in 1882. He was appointed premier in 1886. In 1888 he became minister of war, a position he held concurrently with his appointment as premier from March 1890 to February 1892. During his five-year term as minister of war, he completely reorganized the French army, making it a more efficient fighting force.

Freycinet was forced to resign in 1893 amid the scandal following France’s failed attempt to build a canal across Panama. Subsequently, he played a minor part in French politics, although he was again minister of war from 1898 to 1899 and then minister without portfolio from 1915 to 1916. Freycinet wrote many books about technical, military, and economic subjects. He was elected a member of the Academy of Sciences in 1882 and a member of the French Academy in 1890.