POINCARE, Raymond, President of the French Republic: h. Bar-le-Duc, Meuse, 20 Aug. 1860. He was educated at the lycees of Bar Ic-Duc and Louis-le-Grand and studied law in Paris. He practised for a short time and was a contributor to political journals. In 1886 young Poincare was elected deputy and soon made his mark as an earnest student of govern ment and legislation. He allied himself with the moderate Republicans, whose leader at that time was M. Meline. He did not take a prom inent part in the Dreyfus case and opposed some of the policies of Waldeck-Rousseau. At the age of 33 Poincare entered the cabinet as Minister of Public Instruction, which he re linquished the year following to take the port folio of Finance. In the many cabinet changes which followed he held various portfolios, but he acquired especial distinction as Minister of Finance in dealing with the involved and diffi cult affairs of the budget. M. Poincare be came a Senator in 1903, but he appeared to be indifferent to advancement in the public service and for nine years gave most of his attention to his legal practice, reaching the front rank of his profession. In 1912 M. Poincare became Prime Minister, taking charge also of the Min istry of Foreign Affairs. He supported warmly the alliance with Russia and furthered the entente cordiale with England. As an •advo cate of proportional representation he sup ported a bill on this matter in 1912, which passed the Chamber but was thrown out by the reactionary Senate. On 17 Jan. 1913 Ray mondPoincare was elected to the Presidency of the Republic, the ninth to hold that office. The new President soon let it be known that he intended to be no mere figurehead, with cabi net ministers directing the policies and wield ing all the power. His election was particularly
pleasing to Russia and to England because of his support of the entente and his advocacy of the new spirit of nationalism. The new Presi dent was soon the most influential person in his government and was fully cognizant of the Teutonic menace which had administered more than one humiliation to France since the beginning of the century. To checkmate it, the three-year military service law was passed despite the violent opppsition of the Radical elements; the amiable relations with England and Russia were fostered, the President mak ing visits to the capitals of those countries, where he was enthusiastically received. All his efforts, however, were unable to avert the catastrophe, which like an avalanche burst upon France in 1914. The five ensuing years of Poincare's life are the history of France ; his able voice urged on his countrymen to great deeds and despite the efforts of the Defeatists he kept the courage, enthusiasm and patriotism of his people keyed up to the highest pitch. He visited the soldiers in training camps, trench and hospital and to him no less than to his Premier, Clemenceau, is due in great part the successful outcome. M. Poincare has found time to devote to literary subjects and is the author of several works, including 'Idees contem poraines' (1906) ; 'Questions et figures poli tiques' (1907); 'Causeslitteraires et artistiques' ; 'Cc que demande la cite' (1912; English trans lation, entitled 'How France is Governed,' 1913). Consult Dawbarn, Charles, 'Makers of New France' (New York 1915) ; Fullerton, W. M., 'Four French Statesmen' (Boston 1915) ; anon.,