GREVY, Ji*LES (1807-91). A President of the French Republic. He was born August 15. 1807. at Mont-sous-Vaudrey (Jura). of an old and respected family. After receiving a good classical education, GrCvy came to Paris to study law. While still a student he took part in the Revolution of 1830, and being later admitted to the bar (1837), he showed his republican sym pathies by acting for political prisoners before the Paris tribunals, notably in 1839, in the case of two republican friends of Barbbs (q.v.). In 1848 Grevy was appointed by the Provisional Govern ment commissioner-general in the Jura district, and was returned as Deputy to the Constituent Assembly. In this capacity he was an independ ent, and generally voted with the extreme Left. After Louis Napoleon's coup d'etat, Grevy with drew from politics and devoted himself to his professional work. He rose to great eminence in his profession, and was elected b(itonnier or president of the Paris bar. He returned to politics in 1868 as a Deputy to the Corps Legislatif from the Jura Department, and acted as a moderate Republican. After the Franco-German War he was elected to the National Assembly at Bor deaux, and was chosen its president, a post he resigned in 1873. He reentered the Chamber in the general election of 1876, and became its president. When Marshal MacMahon resigned
the Presidency of the Republic in 1879, Grevy was elected his successor, January 30th, and he was reelected in 1885. During his first term of office Grevy was distinguished by the moderation of his views, his sagacity, and unostentatious mode of life. His tact and diplomatic ability smoothed over many difficulties in the prob lems of the day. His second term of office was less successful. His popularity was entirely destroyed by the revelations of a scandalous trade in offices and decorations of honor carried on by his son-in-law, Wilson, and he was forced to resign, December 2, 1887. He died at Mont-sous Vaudrey September 9, 1891. In 1873 Grevy published a pamphlet, Le gouvernement noces saire, in which he pleads for the strengthen ing of the Republic. His Discours politiques et judiciares, rapports et messages, were edited with an introduction by Delabrousse (1888). Consult also Bertrand, Le president Grevy (Be sancon, 1892). For short biographies in Eng lish, see King, French Political Leaders (New York, 1882) ; and "Biographies of Eminent Per sons," reprinted from the London Times (London, 1896). •