# Frédéric Passy

> French economist and statesman (1822-1912)

**Wikidata**: [Q180409](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q180409)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frédéric_Passy)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/frederic-passy

## Summary
Frédéric Passy was a French economist, statesman, and diplomat born in 1822 who dedicated his life to the promotion of international peace. He is most renowned for being a co-recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901, recognizing his pivotal role in founding the Interparliamentary Union and the League of Peace and Freedom. His work established a foundational framework for diplomatic conflict resolution and parliamentary cooperation that continues to influence global politics.

## Biography
- **Born**: May 20, 1822 (Place not explicitly stated in source, but citizenship is France)
- **Nationality**: France
- **Education**: Educated at Lycée Condorcet and Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris, France.
- **Known for**: Co-founding the Interparliamentary Union and the League of Peace and Freedom; winning the first Nobel Peace Prize.
- **Employer(s)**: Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques; Interparliamentary Union; League of Peace and Freedom.
- **Field(s)**: Economics, Politics, Diplomacy, Peace Activism.

## Contributions
Frédéric Passy's primary contributions lie in the institutionalization of international peace and parliamentary diplomacy.
- **Founding the League of Peace and Freedom**: In 1867, Passy helped establish this European federalist and pacifist organization, creating a platform for early peace advocacy.
- **Establishing the Interparliamentary Union**: In 1889, he co-founded this international organization of national parliaments to facilitate dialogue between legislators of different nations to prevent war.
- **Nobel Peace Prize**: In 1901, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (shared with Henry Dunant) for his lifelong efforts in arbitration and peace, marking the first time this honor was bestowed.
- **Academic Leadership**: He served as a member of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques, contributing to the moral and political discourse of France.
- **Political Service**: As a politician and diplomat, he utilized his positions to advocate for arbitration treaties and the reduction of military armaments.

## FAQs
**What were Frédéric Passy's primary professional roles?**
Passy worked as an economist, politician, and diplomat, holding positions that allowed him to influence French domestic policy and international relations. He was also a prominent academic member of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques.

**Which major organizations did Frédéric Passy help create?**
He was a key founder of the League of Peace and Freedom in 1867 and the Interparliamentary Union in 1889. These organizations were designed to foster dialogue between nations and parliaments to resolve conflicts without war.

**Why was Frédéric Passy awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?**
He received the inaugural Nobel Peace Prize in 1901 for his tireless work in promoting arbitration and establishing international institutions dedicated to peace. His efforts laid the groundwork for modern diplomatic conflict resolution.

**Where did Frédéric Passy receive his education?**
He attended two prestigious public schools in Paris: Lycée Condorcet and Lycée Louis-le-Grand. These institutions provided the foundation for his later career in economics and politics.

**What is the legacy of the Interparliamentary Union?**
Founded by Passy in 1889, it remains a leading international organization of national parliaments, continuing his mission to use legislative dialogue as a tool for peace. It serves as a bridge between different national governments to prevent armed conflict.

## Why They Matter
Frédéric Passy matters because he transformed the abstract concept of international peace into concrete, operational institutions. Before his work, peace efforts were often individual or ad-hoc; Passy institutionalized these efforts by creating the Interparliamentary Union, which remains a vital mechanism for diplomatic engagement today. His advocacy for arbitration over war influenced the development of international law and the structure of the League of Nations and later the United Nations. Without his foundational work in 1867 and 1889, the framework for parliamentary diplomacy and the global recognition of peace activism as a Nobel-worthy pursuit might have been significantly delayed. His life demonstrated that economic and political expertise could be leveraged specifically to dismantle the machinery of war.

## Notable For
- **First Nobel Peace Prize Recipient**: One of the five original laureates in 1901.
- **Founder of the Interparliamentary Union**: Established in 1889 to promote dialogue between national parliaments.
- **Founder of the League of Peace and Freedom**: Created in 1867 as a European federalist and pacifist organization.
- **Commander of the Legion of Honour**: Held the third rank of this prestigious French order.
- **Member of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques**: Recognized for his contributions to moral and political science.
- **French Statesman**: Served as a politician and diplomat representing France.
- **Economist**: Applied economic principles to the study of peace and international relations.
- **Educated at Elite Institutions**: Alumni of Lycée Condorcet and Lycée Louis-le-Grand.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Frédéric Passy was born on May 20, 1822, in France. He pursued his early education at two of Paris's most distinguished public schools. He attended Lycée Condorcet, which was founded in 1803, and later Lycée Louis-le-Grand, an institution with a history dating back to 1563. These educational foundations prepared him for a career in public service and intellectual leadership.

### Professional Career and Fields
Passy's career spanned multiple disciplines, including economics, politics, and diplomacy. He is identified as a professional in the discipline of economics and a person who held or sought positions in government. As a diplomat, he was appointed by the French state to conduct diplomacy with other states and international organizations. His work was deeply rooted in the field of peace activism, where he sought to replace military conflict with arbitration and dialogue.

### Founding of Peace Organizations
A defining aspect of Passy's career was the creation of major international peace bodies. In 1867, he co-founded the League of Peace and Freedom, an organization dedicated to European federalism and pacifism. Later, in 1889, he played a central role in establishing the Interparliamentary Union, an international organization of national parliaments. These organizations provided structured platforms for legislators to discuss and resolve international disputes, moving beyond mere rhetoric to actionable diplomacy.

### Political and Academic Affiliations
Passy was an active member of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques, an academy founded in 1795 and headquartered in Paris. His membership in this body underscored his status as a leading intellectual in moral and political sciences. He was also a member of several other groups, including the Interparliamentary Union and the League of Peace and Freedom, reflecting his lifelong commitment to these causes. His citizenship was French, and he operated primarily within the context of the French Republic and its international relations.

### Awards and Recognition
The highest honor of Passy's life was receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901. This award recognized him as one of the first five recipients of the prize, cementing his legacy as a global peacemaker. In addition to the Nobel Prize, he was appointed as a Commander of the Legion of Honour, the third rank of the French Legion of Honour, acknowledging his significant service to the nation. These accolades highlight the dual recognition he received from both the international community and his home country.

### Legacy and Historical Context
Frédéric Passy's life (1822–1912) coincided with a period of significant political change in France, including the establishment of the Third Republic. His work in economics and politics was instrumental in shaping the French approach to international relations during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The institutions he founded, particularly the Interparliamentary Union, continue to operate today, serving as a testament to his vision of a world governed by dialogue rather than force. His death on June 12, 1912, marked the end of a life dedicated to the pursuit of peace, leaving behind a legacy that influenced the formation of future international bodies like the League of Nations and the United Nations.

### Personal Identifiers and Records
Passy is documented in numerous authoritative databases and archives. His Wikidata identifier is Q57704, and he is associated with various library and catalog numbers, including the Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) n2005113419 and the GND identifier 11605283X. He is listed in the French National Library (BnF) under the ID 119187347. His image is cataloged as "Frederic Passy.jpg," and his life is recorded in the International Biographical Dictionary with the ID 000748248. These records ensure his historical presence is preserved across digital and physical archives globally.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. Find a Grave
4. [Source](http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1901/)
5. [Source](https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/about/amounts/)
6. International Standard Name Identifier
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. CiNii Research
9. Sycomore
10. Léonore database
11. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
12. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
13. GeneaStar
14. Roglo
15. Croatian Encyclopedia
16. La France savante
17. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
18. [Source](https://gw.geneanet.org/astridn?lang=en&n=passy&oc=0&p=frederic)
19. nobelprize.org