18 Facts About Paul Doumer

Joseph Athanase Doumer, commonly known as Paul Doumer, was President of France from 13 June 1931 until his assassination.

Joseph Athanase Doumer was born in Aurillac, in the Cantal departement, in France on 22 March 1857, into a family of modest means.

In 1878 Paul Doumer married Blanche Richel, whom he had met at college.

From 1879 until 1883 Paul Doumer was professor at Remiremont, before leaving on health grounds.

Paul Doumer then became chief editor of Courrier de l'Aisne, a French regional newspaper.

Paul Doumer made his debut in politics in 1885 as chef de cabinet to Charles Floquet, then president of the Chamber of Deputies.

In 1888, Paul Doumer was elected Radical deputy for the department of Aisne.

Paul Doumer was briefly Minister of Finance of France when he tried without success to introduce an income tax.

Paul Doumer was Governor-General of French Indochina from 1897 to 1902.

Paul Doumer established Indochina as a market for French products and a source of profitable investment by French businessmen.

Paul Doumer set about outfitting Indochina, especially Hanoi, the capital, with modern infrastructure befitting property of France.

Paul Doumer refused to support the ministry of Emile Combes, and formed a Radical dissident group, which grew in strength and eventually caused the fall of the ministry.

Paul Doumer then served as President of the Chamber from 1902 to 1905.

Paul Doumer became Minister of Finance of France again in 1925 when Louis Loucheur resigned.

Paul Doumer then served as President of the French Senate from 1927 until the 1931 presidential election.

Paul Doumer was elected President of the French Republic on 13 May 1931, defeating the better known Aristide Briand, and replacing Gaston Doumergue.

On 6 May 1932, Paul Doumer was in Paris at the opening of a book fair at the Hotel Salomon de Rothschild, talking to author Claude Farrere.

Paul Doumer later described the scene in his autobiography, "Call No Man Happy".