René Viviani

René Raphaël Viviani (November 8, 1863 – September 7, 1925) was a French politician of the Third Republic, who served as Prime Minister for the first year of World War I.

Beginning his political career as a Socialist, Viviani, like fellow Socialist Aristide Briand, was expelled from the party for joining the government of Georges Clemenceau. He served in various positions in the governments of the early 1910s before becoming Prime Minister in June of 1914. During the July Crisis, he was largely dominated by the President, Raymond Poincaré, and his tenure leading France during the war was undistinguished.

Viviani's First Government, 13 June – 26 August 1914

• René Viviani – President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Adolphe Messimy – Minister of War
• Louis Malvy – Minister of the Interior
• Joseph Noullens – Minister of Finance
• Maurice Couyba – Minister of Labour and Social Security Provisions
• Jean-Baptiste Bienvenu-Martin – Minister of Justice
• Armand Gauthier de l'Aude – Minister of Marine
• Victor Augagneur – Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts.
• Fernand David – Minister of Agriculture
• Maurice Raynaud – Minister of Colonies
• René Renoult – Minister of Public Works
• Gaston Thomson – Minister of Commerce, Industry, Posts, and Telegraphs

Changes

• 3 August 1914 – Gaston Doumergue succeeds Viviani as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Victor Augagneur succeeds l'Aude as Minister of Marine. Albert Sarraut succeeds Augagneur as Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts

Viviani's Second Ministry, 26 August 1914 – 29 October 1915

• René Viviani – President of the Council
• Théophile Delcassé – Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Alexandre Millerand – Minister of War
• Louis Malvy – Minister of the Interior
• Alexandre Ribot – Minister of Finance
• Jean-Baptiste Bienvenu-Martin – Minister of Labour and Social Security Provisions
• Aristide Briand – Minister of Justice
• Victor Augagneur – Minister of Marine
• Albert Sarraut – Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts
• Fernand David – Minister of Agriculture
• Gaston Doumergue – Minister of Colonies
• Marcel Sembat – Minister of Public Works
• Gaston Thomson – Minister of Commerce, Industry, Posts, and Telegraphs
• Jules Guesde – Minister without Portfolio

Changes

• 13 October 1915 – Viviani succeeds Delcassé as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

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