# Paul Deschanel

> 11th President of the French Republic (1855–1922)

**Wikidata**: [Q309995](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309995)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Deschanel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/paul-deschanel

## Summary
Paul Deschanel was a French politician, journalist, and writer who served as the 11th President of the French Republic. Living from 1855 to 1922, he held the highest office in France and was recognized for his service with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. He was also a distinguished intellectual, serving as a member of the Académie Française and the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques.

## Biography
- **Born:** February 13, 1855
- **Nationality:** French
- **Education:** Lycée Condorcet, Lycée Louis-le-Grand
- **Known for:** Serving as the 11th President of the French Republic; membership in the Académie Française and Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques.
- **Employer(s):** French Republic (as President); Académie Française; Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques.
- **Field(s):** Politics, Journalism, Literature.

## Contributions
Paul Deschanel's primary contributions were defined by his leadership in French government and his influence on French intellectual and cultural institutions. He served as the 11th President of the French Republic, holding the nation's highest office during the early 20th century. As a writer and journalist, he contributed to French political discourse and literature, which led to his election to the Académie Française, the pre-eminent council for the French language. He also served as a member of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques, contributing to discussions in the moral and political sciences. His academic and diplomatic contributions were recognized internationally with an honorary doctorate from the University of Liège.

## FAQs
**What awards did Paul Deschanel receive?**
He received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the Royal Order of the Seraphim from Sweden, the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation from Savoy, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Liège.

**Where was Paul Deschanel educated?**
Deschanel attended the Lycée Condorcet and the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, both public schools located in Paris, France.

**What were Paul Deschanel's primary occupations?**
He worked professionally as a politician, a journalist, and a writer throughout his career.

**Was Paul Deschanel a member of any academies?**
Yes, he was a member of the Académie Française and the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques.

## Why They Matter
Paul Deschanel matters as a head of state who led the French Republic during a pivotal era, embodying the intersection of political power and intellectualism. His ascent to the presidency followed a distinguished career in journalism and literature, highlighting the importance of oratory and writing in French political leadership. His membership in the Académie Française and the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques signifies his lasting impact on the country's cultural and moral institutions. The high honors he received, both domestically and internationally, reflect the esteem in which he was held for his public service and contributions to civil society.

## Notable For
- **Presidency:** Serving as the 11th President of the French Republic.
- **Legion of Honour:** Recipient of the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (5th rank).
- **Swedish Order:** Recipient of the Royal Order of the Seraphim.
- **Italian Order:** Recipient of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation.
- **Academic Honor:** Honorary doctor of the University of Liège.
- **Académie Française:** Member of the pre-eminent council for the French language.
- **Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques:** Member of the academy focused on moral and political sciences.

## Body

### Personal Life and Education
Paul Deschanel was born on February 13, 1855, and died on April 28, 1922. He was a French citizen, identified by his nationality as belonging to the country of France. His educational background included attendance at two prestigious institutions in Paris: the Lycée Condorcet and the Lycée Louis-le-Grand. These schools served as the foundation for his entry into public life and intellectual circles.

### Professional Career
Deschanel's professional life was multifaceted, spanning the fields of politics, journalism, and writing. As a politician, he ultimately achieved the highest office in the land, becoming the 11th President of the French Republic. His work as a journalist and writer provided the platform for his political rise and established his reputation as a thinker and orator. His career trajectory placed him at the center of French governmental and cultural affairs.

### Institutional Affiliations
Beyond his executive political role, Deschanel was deeply embedded in the French intellectual establishment. He was a member of the Académie Française, the pre-eminent council for the French language, which was founded in 1635 and is headquartered in Paris. Additionally, he held a membership in the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques, an academy founded in 1795 that also operates out of Paris and focuses on the moral and political sciences. These affiliations underscore his standing as a significant figure in French letters and thought.

### Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, Deschanel accumulated numerous awards and honors recognizing his service and stature. Domestically, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, which is the fifth rank of the French order of chivalry. His international recognition included the Royal Order of the Seraphim, a Swedish order of chivalry established in 1748, and the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation, a Roman Catholic order of knighthood originating in Savoy with an inception date of 1518. He also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Liège.

### National Context
As President of the French Republic, Deschanel led a nation that is a semi-presidential republic and a unitary state with a decentralized administration. France, the country he served, is located primarily in Western Europe but extends its presence to other continents through overseas territories in the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. The French Republic operates under a constitution that established the Fifth Republic, featuring a bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate.

The nation Deschanel governed is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a founding member of the European Union, playing a central role in international affairs. France possesses nuclear weapons, a status attained in 1960, and is a leading member of NATO. The country's economy is characterized by a high standard of living, with a nominal GDP of approximately $2.78 trillion USD as of 2022, and uses the Euro as its currency in metropolitan France.

Culturally, France is renowned for its contributions to art, philosophy, science, and gastronomy, values enshrined in the national motto "Liberté, égalité, fraternité." The nation maintains a vast global reach through its overseas territories, granting it the second-largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the world. It is also a top tourist destination and a founding member of Interpol. The geographic diversity of the country ranges from the metropolitan borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra, to overseas territories in the Americas, Africa, Oceania, and Antarctica.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Integrated Authority File
3. senat.fr
4. [academie-francaise.fr](http://www.academie-francaise.fr/les-immortels/paul-deschanel?fauteuil=19&election=18-05-1899)
5. Library of the World's Best Literature
6. [Source](http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0001030925&search=&lang=es)
7. [Source](https://runeberg.org/statskal/1921/0784.html)
8. The orders of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland
9. [Source](https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/188260)
10. International Standard Name Identifier
11. [Académie Française](https://www.academie-francaise.fr/les-immortels/paul-deschanel?fauteuil=19&election=18-05-1899)
12. [Source](https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr/siv/POG/FRAN_POG_05/p-9zapqad45-1q5pzwkahyfj4)
13. Find a Grave
14. GeneaStar
15. Roglo
16. La France savante
17. Sycomore
18. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
19. Virtual International Authority File
20. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index3.html)
21. [Source](http://purl.org/pressemappe20/beaconlist/pe)
22. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File