17 Facts About Paul Jourdain

Paul Leon Jourdain was born on 28 October 1878 in Altkirch, Alsace-Lorraine, then part of the German Empire.

Paul Jourdain attended the Lycee Jansonde-Sailly for his secondary education, then joined the 119th infantry regiment in Le Havre for his military service.

Paul Jourdain attended the Ecole Superieure de Commerce in Lyon, from which he graduated in 1902.

Paul Jourdain worked for a machinery firm in Bourgoin, then worked in the silk industry in Lyon.

At the start of World War I Paul Jourdain tried to reach France but was arrested by the German military authorities on 4 August 1914.

On 16 November 1919 Paul Jourdain was elected deputy for Haut-Rhin.

Paul Jourdain was made the president of the chamber's Commission d'Assurance et de Prevoyance Sociales.

Paul Jourdain was appointed Minister of Labor on 2 December 1919 in the cabinet of Georges Clemenceau, and retained this post in the subsequent cabinets of Alexandre Millerand and Georges Leygues, leaving office on 16 January 1921.

In 1920 Paul Jourdain became mayor of Altkirch, holding office throughout the inter-war years.

Paul Jourdain tried to mediate a solution, while Millerand imposed repressive measures.

Paul Jourdain was the principal author of the first French social insurance bill, which was presented to the chamber by his successor as Minister of Labor, Charles Daniel-Vincent.

Paul Jourdain was reelected to the chamber of deputies on 11 May 1924.

Paul Jourdain was Minister of Pensions in the three successive cabinets of Aristide Briand from 28 November 1925 to 19 July 1926.

On 9 January 1927 Paul Jourdain was elected to the Senate and joined the Democratic and Radical Union.

Paul Jourdain was reelected in the second round on 20 October 1935.

Paul Jourdain was appointed vice president of the Senate on 11 January 1940.

Paul Jourdain died in Paris on 26 March 1948 at the age of 69.