26 Facts About Georges Pompidou

Georges Pompidou previously served as Prime Minister of France under President Charles de Gaulle from 1962 to 1968, a longevity record under the Fifth Republic.

Georges Pompidou died in office in 1974 of Waldenstrom's disease, a rare form of blood cancer.

An admirer of contemporary art, Georges Pompidou's name remains known worldwide for the Centre Georges Pompidou, which he initiated and was inaugurated in 1977; it subsequently spread the name with its branches in Metz, Malaga, Brussels and Shanghai.

The family of Georges Pompidou was of very modest origins.

Georges Pompidou was the grandson of farmers of modest means in Cantal on both his father's and his mother's side.

Georges Pompidou's case is thus often cited as a typical example of social mobility in the Third Republic because of public schooling.

Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou was born on 5 July 1911 in the commune of Montboudif, in the department of Cantal, in south-central France.

Georges Pompidou first taught literature at the lycee Henri IV in Paris until he was hired in 1953 by Guy de Rothschild to work at Rothschild.

Naturally reserved, little given to emotional outbursts, Georges Pompidou did not forge very close ties with his colleagues.

Georges Pompidou served as prime minister of France under de Gaulle after Michel Debre resigned, from 14 April 1962 to 10 July 1968, and to this day is the longest serving French prime minister under the Fifth Republic.

Georges Pompidou's nomination was controversial because he was not a member of the National Assembly.

The Gaullists won the legislative election and Georges Pompidou was reappointed as prime minister.

Georges Pompidou led the 1967 legislative campaign of the Union of Democrats for the Fifth Republic to a narrow victory.

Georges Pompidou was widely regarded as being responsible for the peaceful resolution of the student uprising of May 1968.

Georges Pompidou's strategy was to break the coalition of students and workers by negotiating with the trade-unions and employers.

Georges Pompidou led and won the 1968 legislative campaign, overseeing a tremendous victory of the Gaullist Party.

Georges Pompidou announced his candidature for the Presidency in January 1969.

Georges Pompidou embarked on an industrialisation plan and initiated the Arianespace project, as well as the TGV project, and furthered the French civilian nuclear programme.

Georges Pompidou was sceptical about the "New Society" programme of his prime minister, Jacques Chaban-Delmas.

Georges Pompidou sought to maintain good relations with the newly independent former French colonies in Africa, relying on such powerful figures as Jacques Foccart and Rene Journiac who maintained informal networks with African strongmen.

Georges Pompidou brought a message of cooperation and financial assistance, but without the traditional paternalism.

Georges Pompidou spearheaded construction of a modern art museum, the Centre Beaubourg, on the edge of the Marais area of Paris.

However, even on the day of his death, Georges Pompidou had a visit scheduled from Rwandan President Gregoire Kayibanda.

Georges Pompidou was married to Claude Cahour, who would outlive him by more than thirty years.

The couple adopted a son, Alain Georges Pompidou, who went on to serve as president of the European Patent Office.

Georges Pompidou was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Delhi during his tenure as Prime Minister.