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Adolphe Thiers

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Adolphe Thiers was a prominent French statesman and a celebrated historian.

Adolphe Thiers, d'après Belliard
Adolphe Thiers, d'après Belliard

He played a vital role in shaping the political landscape of 19th-century France. Thiers served as the first president of the Third French Republic from 1871 to 1873. His career spanned several major political shifts, including the July Revolution of 1830 and the Revolution of 1848. Beyond politics, he was a prolific writer who documented the most important eras of French history. His ability to navigate complex political changes made him a central figure in his nation.

Thiers was born in Marseille on April 15, 1797, during the rule of the Directorate. His early life was marked by family instability. His father, Pierre-Louis-Marie Thiers, was a businessman who often faced legal difficulties. After his father married Adolphe's mother, Marie-Madeleine Amic, he soon abandoned the family. Despite having little money, Adolphe received a quality education through the help of relatives. He studied law at the faculty in Aix-en-Provence and entered the bar in 1818.

Seeking more opportunity, he moved to Paris in 1821 with only 100 francs.

In Paris, Thiers rapidly built a reputation in journalism. He initially worked as a secretary for the Duke of La Rochefoucauld.

François XII de La Rochefoucauld (1747-1827)
François XII de La Rochefoucauld (1747-1827)

He soon moved to the influential journal *Le Constitutionnel*. This newspaper had 44,000 subscribers, which was much larger than the royalist press. Thiers wrote about art, literature, and politics, becoming one of the most-read journalists in the city. He even wrote a famous review for the painter Eugène Delacroix.

Eugène Ferdinand Victor Delacroix 039
Eugène Ferdinand Victor Delacroix 039

During this time, the diplomat Prince Talleyrand became his political mentor.

Talleyrand, Charles-Maurice - Vieux
Talleyrand, Charles-Maurice - Vieux

Thiers achieved great fame through his work as a historian. He wrote a massive ten-volume history of the French Revolution, published between 1823 and 1827. This work was a significant political act during the Bourbon Restoration. It praised the principles of the 1789 Revolution and was very popular among liberals. The series sold 10,000 sets and earned him 57,000 francs.

Première page de l'Histoire de la Révolution française, par Adolphe Thiers
Première page de l'Histoire de la Révolution française, par Adolphe Thiers

He also wrote a twenty-volume history of the Consulate and Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte. His intellectual success led to his election to the Académie Française in 1834.

His political life was often defined by his opposition to absolute monarchy. In 1830, he helped start a new newspaper called *The National* to attack the government of King Charles X.

Saisie des presses du National
Saisie des presses du National

This activism contributed to the July Revolution, which replaced the King with Louis Philippe.

L'avènement de Louis-Philippe
L'avènement de Louis-Philippe

Thiers later served as prime minister in 1836 and 1840. During his time in office, he arranged the return of Napoleon's remains to France.

Retour des Cendres - 6
Retour des Cendres - 6

However, his relationship with Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte was difficult. When Bonaparte became Emperor Napoleon III, Thiers was arrested and briefly expelled from the country.

Thiers reached the highest office in France following the Franco-Prussian War. After France's defeat, he was elected chief executive of the new government. In August 1871, the National Assembly named him president of the Republic.

Portrait officiel d'Adolphe Thiers
Portrait officiel d'Adolphe Thiers

His presidency was a period of intense reconstruction. He had to manage the aftermath of the Paris Commune, which he suppressed using the army. His most significant achievement was negotiating the departure of German soldiers. He managed to clear most German troops from French territory two years ahead of the original schedule.

Despite his successes, Thiers faced constant political pressure. He was opposed by monarchists in the Assembly and by the left-wing republicans. This tension eventually led to his resignation on May 24, 1873. He was replaced by Patrice de MacMahon. When Thiers died in 1877, his funeral was a massive political event in Paris.

The procession was led by his former allies, Victor Hugo and Léon Gambetta. His life remains a key study in the transition of France into a modern republic.

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🖼️ Images & Media (31)
File:François XII de La Rochefoucauld (1747-1827).jpg
François XII de La Rochefoucauld (1747-1827).jpg
File:Talleyrand, Charles-Maurice - Vieux.jpg
Talleyrand, Charles-Maurice - Vieux.jpg
File:Première page de l'Histoire de la Révolution française, par Adolphe Thiers.jpg
Première page de l'Histoire de la...
File:Saisie des presses du National.jpg
Saisie des presses du National.jpg
File:L'avènement de Louis-Philippe.jpg
L'avènement de Louis-Philippe.jpg
File:Adolphe Thiers, d'après Belliard.jpg
Adolphe Thiers, d'après Belliard.jpg
File:Eugène Ferdinand Victor Delacroix 039.jpg
Eugène Ferdinand Victor Delacroix 039.jpg
File:Illustrirte Zeitung (1843) 08 116 1 Der Sitzungssaal der Deputirtenkammer in Paris.PNG
Illustrirte Zeitung (1843) 08 116 1 Der...
File:Retour des Cendres - 6.jpg
Retour des Cendres - 6.jpg
File:Adolphe Thiers by Luigi Calamatta.jpg
Adolphe Thiers by Luigi Calamatta.jpg
File:Louis-Philippe 1842 Lerebours Claudet.jpg
Louis-Philippe 1842 Lerebours Claudet.jpg
File:Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte président.JPG
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte président.JPG

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