List of presidents of France facts for kids

The president of France is like the head leader of France. They are chosen by people voting every five years.

The first person considered a president was Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte. He was elected in 1848. But then, he took control in 1851 and later made himself emperor, known as Napoleon III. Many people supported him because he brought back the right for all men to vote, which had been taken away. This helped him start the Second Empire.

After Napoleon III's rule ended in 1870, France became a republic again, called the Third Republic. Later, in 1962, President Charles de Gaulle asked the people to vote on a new way to choose the president. Before this, presidents were chosen by a group of electors. After 1962, people started voting directly for their president. Since then, there have been ten presidential elections. The 25th and current president is Emmanuel Macron, who started his term on May 14, 2017.

Early Leaders of France

First Republic (1792–1804)

After the French Revolution, France became a republic. During this time, there wasn't one single president like today.

National Convention (1792–1795)

The National Convention was a group that led France. The person in charge, called the President of the National Convention, changed every two weeks. Important leaders during this time included Georges Danton and Maximilien Robespierre.

The Directory (1795–1799)

The Directory was a group of five leaders. They had a president, but this role was mostly for show and changed every three months. The real power was held by the group as a whole. Paul Barras was a very important figure during this period.

After a big change in government in 1799, called the Coup of 18 Brumaire, the Directory ended.

The Consulate (1799–1804)

After the Directory, France was led by three "Consuls." The most powerful of these was the First Consul, Napoléon Bonaparte. He later made himself Emperor of the French in 1804, becoming Emperor Napoleon I.

France then had kings again for some time (1814–1815, 1815–1830, and 1830–1848).

Second Republic (1848–1852)

In 1848, France became a republic once more.

Provisional Government (1848)

After a revolution in February 1848, a temporary government was set up. Jacques-Charles Dupont de l'Eure was its president. He was a Moderate Republican.

Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party
	Jacques-Charles Dupont de l'Eure	26 February 1848	9 May 1848	Moderate Republicans

Executive Commission (1848)

After the Provisional Government, an Executive Commission took over. François Arago was its president. This group acted as the head of state together.

Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party
	François Arago	9 May 1848	24 June 1848	Moderate Republicans

Chief of the Executive Power (1848)

During a time of unrest, Louis-Eugène Cavaignac was given special powers to lead the government. He was a Moderate Republican.

Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party
	Louis-Eugène Cavaignac	28 June 1848	20 December 1848	Moderate Republicans

President of the Republic (1848–1852)

The first actual President of the French Republic was Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte. He was the nephew of Napoleon I.

Nº	Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party
1		Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte	20 December 1848	2 December 1852	Bonapartist

Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte later made himself Emperor Napoleon III in 1852, starting the Second French Empire.

Third Republic (1870–1940)

After the Second Empire ended, France became a republic again, known as the Third Republic.

Government of National Defense (1870–1871)

When Napoleon III was captured in battle, a temporary government was formed. Louis-Jules Trochu led this government.

Nº	Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party
—		Louis-Jules Trochu	14 September 1870	13 February 1871	Moderate Monarchist

Chief of the Executive Power (1871)

Adolphe Thiers was chosen to lead the government after the war. He helped France recover and later became president.

Nº	Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party
—		Adolphe Thiers	17 February 1871	30 August 1871	Moderate Monarchist

Presidents of the Republic (1871–1940)

Here are the presidents who served during the Third Republic:

Nº	Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party
2		Adolphe Thiers	31 August 1871	24 May 1873	Moderate Monarchist
2	3		Patrice de MacMahon	24 May 1873	30 January 1879	Monarchist
4	3		Jules Grévy	30 January 1879	2 December 1887	Opportunist Republican
4	5		Sadi Carnot	3 December 1887	25 June 1894†	Opportunist Republican
6	5		Jean Casimir-Perier	27 June 1894	16 January 1895	Opportunist Republican
6	7		Félix Faure	17 January 1895	16 February 1899†	Opportunist Republican
8	7		Émile Loubet	18 February 1899	18 February 1906	Democratic Republican Alliance
8	9		Armand Fallières	18 February 1906	18 February 1913	Democratic Republican Alliance
10	9		Raymond Poincaré	18 February 1913	18 February 1920	Democratic Republican Party
10	11		Paul Deschanel	18 February 1920	21 September 1920	Democratic Republican Alliance
12	11		Alexandre Millerand	23 September 1920	11 June 1924	Independent
12	13		Gaston Doumergue	13 June 1924	13 June 1931	Radical-Socialist and Radical Republican Party
14	13		Paul Doumer	13 June 1931	7 May 1932†	Independent
14	15		Albert Lebrun	10 May 1932	11 July 1940	Democratic Alliance

The office of President of the French Republic did not exist from 1940 until 1947.

French State (1940–1944)

During World War II, after France was defeated, Philippe Pétain became the Chief of State. His government worked with Nazi Germany.

Nº	Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party
—		Philippe Pétain	11 July 1940	19 August 1944

Government-in-exile (1940–1944)

While France was occupied, Charles de Gaulle led the "Free French" forces from outside France. He worked to free France from Nazi control.

Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party
	Charles de Gaulle	18 June 1940	3 June 1944

Provisional Government (1944–1946)

After France was freed, a temporary government was set up.

Nº	Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party
—		Charles de Gaulle	3 June 1944	26 January 1946	Independent
	—		Félix Gouin	26 January 1946	24 June 1946	French Section of the Workers International
		—		Georges Bidault	24 June 1946	28 November 1946	Popular Republican Movement
—				Vincent Auriol	28 November 1946	16 December 1946	French Section of the Workers' International
	—			Léon Blum	16 December 1946	16 January 1947	French Section of the Workers' International

Fourth Republic (1946–1958)

The Fourth Republic was established with a new constitution.

Nº	Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party
16		Vincent Auriol	16 January 1947	16 January 1954	French Section of the Workers' International
	17		René Coty	16 January 1954	8 January 1959	National Centre of Independents and Peasants

Fifth Republic (1958–Present)

The Fifth Republic was started by Charles de Gaulle to create a stronger presidency. This is the system France uses today.

Nº	Portrait	Name	Term of office		Political party
18		Charles de Gaulle	8 January 1959	28 April 1969	Union for the New Republic
	—		Alain Poher Acting	28 April 1969	20 June 1969	Democratic Centre
	—	19		Georges Pompidou	20 June 1969	2 April 1974†	Union of Democrats for the Republic
—			Alain Poher Acting	2 April 1974	27 May 1974	Democratic Centre
—	20			Valéry Giscard d'Estaing	27 May 1974	21 May 1981	Independent Republicans
21			François Mitterrand	21 May 1981	17 May 1995	Socialist Party
		22		Jacques Chirac	17 May 1995	16 May 2007	Rally for the Republic
	23			Nicolas Sarkozy	16 May 2007	15 May 2012	Union for a Popular Movement
24				François Hollande	15 May 2012	14 May 2017	Socialist Party
		25		Emmanuel Macron	14 May 2017	Incumbent	La République En Marche!

Timeline of Presidents

Images for kids

Paul Barras
Louis-Marie de la Révellière
Jean-François Rewbell
Lazare Carnot
Étienne-François Letourneur
François Barthélemy
Philippe Antoine Merlin
François de Neufchâteau
Jean-Baptiste Treilhard
Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès
Roger Ducos
Jean-François Moulin
Louis-Jérôme Gohier
Napoléon Bonaparte
Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès
Roger Ducos
Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambacérès
Charles-François Lebrun
Félix Gouin
Georges Bidault
Léon Blum

de:Liste der Staatsoberhäupter Frankreichs#Zweite Republik

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List of presidents of France Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.