Leon Gambetta (1838-1882)
French statesman during the Franco-Prussian War
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The former Prime Minister of France was born in Cahors in 1838. A lawyer by trade, he vigorously defended Republican political cases against the Empire of Napoleon III.
Later in his political career, he established La Republique Française which became one of the most influential journals in the country. An excellent public speaker, he gained a huge following and was a key proponent of the Third Republic which was to rule France until the Second World War. Sadly, he died in 1882 after an accident with a revolver.
