Poincaré, Raymond

(born Aug. 20, 1860, Bar-le-Duc, France—died Oct. 15, 1934, Paris) French politician. A lawyer, he served in the Chamber of Deputies (1887–1903) and the Senate (1903–12) and as minister of education (1893, 1895) and finance minister (1894, 1906). As prime minister and foreign minister (1912–13), he strengthened France's ties with Russia and Britain. As president of the Third Republic (1913–20), he vigorously supported national unity. As prime minister again in 1922–24 and 1926–29, he was credited with solving France's financial crisis by stabilizing the franc, enabling a period of new prosperity.

Source: Encyclopedia Britannica