Profile Text
Mitterrand on a French stamp printed c. 1997, photo by Neftali /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand
Date of Birth: 26 October, 1916
Place of Birth: Jarnac, Charente, France
Date of Death: 8 January, 1996
Place of Death: Paris, France
Ethnicity: French
François Mitterrand was a French statesman. He served as President of France , and Co-Prince of Andorra, from 21 May, 1981 to 17 May, 1995. He was previously Minister of Veterans and War Victims, from 22 January, 1947 to 21 October, 1947, and again, from 24 November, 1947 to 19 July, 1948; Minister of Overseas France, from 12 July, 1950 to 15 August, 1951; Minister delegate to the Council of Europe, from 28 June, 1953 to 4 September, 1953; Minister of the Interior, from 19 June, 1954 to 23 February, 1955; Minister of Justice, from 31 January, 1956 to 12 June, 1957; Mayor of Château-Chinon, from 20 March, 1959 to 15 May, 1981; Senator for Nièvre, from 26 April, 1959 to 13 December, 1962; President of the General Council of Nièvre, from 20 March, 1964 to 15 May, 1981; President of the Federation of the Democratic and Socialist Left, from 10 December, 1965 to 7 November, 1968; and First Secretary of the Socialist Party, from 16 June, 1971 to 24 January, 1981.
His father, Gilbert Félix Joseph Mitterrand, was an engineer, from Limoges, Limousin. His mother, Marie Gabrielle Yvonne (Lorrain), was also a native of Jarnac.
President Mitterrand was married to Danielle Émilienne Isabelle Gouze, until his death, with whom he has three sons. He also has two children from extramarital relationships. His nephew is politician Frédéric Mitterrand .
President Mitterrand’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his ninth great-grandfather, Sylvain Mitterrand, of Vignoux-sous-les-Aix, Cher.
President Mitterrand’s paternal grandfather was Gilbert Théodose Mitterrand (the son of Charles Mitterrand and Augustine Louise Desjean). Charles was the son of Martin Mitterrand and Marie Anne Lesestre. Augustine was the daughter of Jean Desjean and Marie Gauriat.
President Mitterrand’s paternal grandmother was Pétronille Zelma Laroche (the daughter of Joseph Laroche and Marguerite Laure Emilie du Soulier de Clareuil). Joseph was the son of François Laroche and Pétronille Robert. Marguerite was the daughter of Jean Baptiste du Soulier de Clareuil and Catherine Saderne.
President Mitterrand’s maternal grandfather was Jules Lorrain (the son of Léon Jules Lorrain and Joséphine Berthelot). Léon was the son of Jules Lorrain and Marie Saizit. Joséphine was the daughter of René Berthelot and Marie Dhiersat.
President Mitterrand’s maternal grandmother was Victorine Eugéne Faure (the daughter of Pierre François Faure and Marie Rose Touzet). Pierre was the son of François Faure-Labouharderie and Marie Madeleine Couturier. President Mitterrand’s great-grandmother Marie Rose was the daughter of Jean Touzet and Marie Thérèse Bernard de Javrezac.
President Mitterrand’s matrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his fifth great-grandmother, Suzanne Albert.
Sources: Genealogies of François Mitterrand – https://www.geni.com https://gw.geneanet.org