FERRY, fa-rP, JULES FRANcOIS CAMILLE (1832-93). A French statesman, He was horn at Saint-Dip, in the Department of Vosges, April 5, 1832. Admitted to the bar in Paris in 1851, lie became connected with the Gazette des Tribunaux, joining the group of young lawyers who opposed Empire. He was among the famous thirteen condemned to imprison ment in 1864. In 1865 he became a writer on the Temps, where his brilliant political articles attracted much attention. In 1869 lie was elected to the Corps LPgislatif. taking his seat among the members of the Left. He voted against the decla ration of war with I'russia, and after the fall of Sedan he and the other Paris Deputies were proclaimed members of the Government of the National Defense, September 4, 1870. Ile was elected one of the representatives of the Depart ment of the Vosges. and resigned his place in the Government in 1871. In 1872 he was ap pointed Minister to Greece by Thiers, but re signed the position the following year. When Grevy became President of the Republic in 1879, Ferry was appointed Minister of Public Instruc tion; the year following he became president of the Council and Prime Minister, but on November 14, 1881. reigned on account of the attacks made on his policy in regard to Tunis. In 1882 lie was
Minister of Public Instruction under Freyeinet, and in the following year became Prime Minister again. In all of these positions he manifested bit ter hostility to the Jesuits, and was largely instru mental in securing their banishment from France. In 1885 the unsatisfactory result of the war in Tongking, which culminated in the defeat of the French at Langsun, on the Chinese frontier, led to Ferry's final resignation. March 30th. In spite of his loss of political power, he was still an influential member of the Chamber of Deputies. and in ISSS was a candidate for the Presidency, but was defeated. Shortly after the election he was wounded. in December, 1887. by a pistol-shot fired by a fanatic named Auhertin in the lobby of the Chamber of Deputies. In 1889 he failed to be reelected to the Chamber, but in January, 1891, was chosen Senator. He came unscathed through the Panama scandal, and was made president of the Senate. February 24. 1893. He died shortly after, March 17, 1893. Consult: Sylvin, Co:Monies contemporaines (Paris, 1883) ; King, French Political Leaders (New York, 1882) : The London Spectator (1893).