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Francis de Pressense

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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"FRANCIS DE PRESSENSE (1853-1914), French politician and man of letters, was born in Paris Sept. 30 1853, the son of Edmond de Pressense ( see 22.299). He was educated at the Lycee Bonaparte, and at school had a brilliant career, earning many distinctions. He served on General Chanzy's staff during the war of 1870 and was taken prisoner at Le Mans, but after the war entered the public service. After a short period at the Ministry of Public Instruction, he entered the diplomatic service, and was appointed first secretary at Washington. In 1882 he returned to France and took up journalism. He was a contributor to many journals, including the Revue des Deux Mondes and the Republique Francaise, and in 1888 became foreign editor of the Temps. On the rise of the Dreyfus question (1895) de Pressense identified himself with the cause of the prisoner. He wrote in support of General Picquart, and in consequence of his advocacy of Emile Zola's cause was struck off the roll of the Legion of Honour. This led to his resignation from the Temps, and he came forward as a socialist politician, being in 1902 elected socialist deputy for the Rhone. He was prominent in the debates on the question of the separation of Church and State, and a bill brought in by him formed the basis of the one finally carried by M. Briand. He died in Paris Jan. 19 1914.

De Pressense published many articles of the greatest interest in the Temps, the Revue des Deux Mondes, Aurore and Humanite. He also produced Le Cardinal Manning (1896), an interesting study, and a work on Home Rule, L'Irlande et l'Angleterre depuis l'acte d'union jusqu'd nos jours, 1800-1888 (1889).