This article lists Presidents of the French Parliament or, as the case may be, of its lower chamber.
The National Constituent Assembly was created in 1789 out of the Estates-General . It, and the revolutionary legislative assemblies that followed – the Legislative Assembly (1791–1792) and the National Convention (1792–1795), had a quickly rotating Presidency. With the establishment of the Directory in 1795, there were two chambers of the French legislature. The lower, the Council of Five Hundred , also had a quickly rotating chairmanship. Under Napoleon I , the Legislative Corps had all authority to actually enact laws, but was essentially a rubberstamp body, lacking the power to debate legislation. With the restoration of the monarchy, a bicameral system was restored, with a Chamber of Peers and a Chamber of Deputies . The Chamber of Deputies, for the first time, had presidents elected for a substantial period of time.
With the revolution of 1848, the monarchical assemblies were dissolved and replaced again with a unicameral National Assembly, which Napoleon III replaced with a new version of his uncle's Legislative Corps. With the establishment of the Third Republic , the name of Chamber of Deputies was restored; after 1876 it was joined by a Senate as upper house. The Chamber of Deputies was renamed the National Assembly in the constitution of the Fourth Republic , and is still known as that.
Presidents of the National Constituent Assembly (1789–1791)
Presidents of the National Constituent Assembly rotated in short periods.
L'Assemblée Nationale Constituante
President
Began
Ended
Jean-Sylvain Bailly
17 June 1789
3 July 1789
Louis Philippe Joseph, duc d'Orléans
3 July 1789
3 July 1789
Jean-Georges Lefranc de Pompignan
3 July 1789
18 July 1789
François Alexandre Frédéric, duc de La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt
18 July 1789
3 August 1789
Jacques Guillaume Thouret
3 August 1789
3 August 1789
Isaac René Guy le Chapelier
3 August 1789
17 August 1789
Stanislas, comte de Clermont-Tonnerre
17 August 1789
31 August 1789
César Guillaume de La Luzerne
31 August 1789
9 September 1789
Stanislas, comte de Clermont-Tonnerre
9 September 1789
28 September 1789
Jean-Joseph Mounier
28 September 1789
10 October 1789
Emmanuel Marie Michel Philippe Fréteau de Saint-Just
10 October 1789
28 October 1789
Armand Gaston Camus
28 October 1789
12 November 1789
Jacques Guillaume Thouret
12 November 1789
23 November 1789
Raymond de Boisgelin de Cucé
23 November 1789
5 December 1789
Emmanuel Marie Michel Philippe Fréteau de Saint-Just
5 December 1789
22 December 1789
Jean-Nicolas Démeunier
22 December 1789
4 January 1790
François-Xavier de Montesquiou-Fézensac
4 January 1790
18 January 1790
Gui-Jean-Baptiste Target
18 January 1790
2 February 1790
Jean-Xavier Bureau de Pusy
2 February 1790
16 February 1790
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord
16 February 1790
28 February 1790
François-Xavier de Montesquiou-Fézensac
28 February 1790
15 March 1790
Jean-Paul Rabaut Saint-Étienne
15 March 1790
27 March 1790
Jean-François, baron de Menou
27 March 1790
12 April 1790
Charles François, Marquis de Bonnay
12 April 1790
27 April 1790
François Henri, comte de Virieu
27 April 1790
29 April 1790
Jean-Louis Gouttes
29 April 1790
8 May 1790
Jacques Guillaume Thouret
8 May 1790
27 May 1790
Bon-Albert Briois de Beaumetz
27 May 1790
8 June 1790
Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès
8 June 1790
21 June 1790
Louis-Michel Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau
21 June 1790
5 July 1790
Charles François, Marquis de Bonnay
5 July 1790
20 July 1790
Jean-Baptiste Treilhard
20 July 1790
31 July 1790
Antoine d'André
31 July 1790
16 August 1790
Samuel-Pierre Du Pont de Nemours
16 August 1790
30 August 1790
Joseph-Henri baron de Jessé
30 August 1790
11 September 1790
Jean-Xavier Bureau de Pusy
11 September 1790
25 September 1790
Jean-Louis Emmery
25 September 1790
9 October 1790
Philippe-Antoine Merlin (known as Merlin de Douai)
9 October 1790
25 October 1790
Antoine Barnave
25 October 1790
8 November 1790
Charles-Antoine Chasset
8 November 1790
20 November 1790
Alexandre de Lameth
20 November 1790
4 December 1790
Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve
4 December 1790
20 December 1790
Charles François, Marquis de Bonnay
20 December 1790
20 December 1790
Antoine d'André
20 December 1790
4 January 1791
Jean-Louis Emmery
4 January 1791
18 January 1791
Henri Jean-Baptiste Grégoire
18 January 1791
29 January 1791
Honoré-Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau
29 January 1791
14 February 1791
Adrien Duport
14 February 1791
26 February 1791
Louis-Marie, vicomte de Noailles
26 February 1791
14 March 1791
Anne-Pierre, marquis de Montesquiou-Fézensac
14 March 1791
29 March 1791
François Denis Tronchet
29 March 1791
9 April 1791
Jean-Baptiste-Charles Chabroud
9 April 1791
23 April 1791
Jean-François Reubell
23 April 1791
9 May 1791
Antoine d'André
9 May 1791
24 May 1791
Jean-Xavier Bureau de Pusy
24 May 1791
6 June 1791
Luc Dauchy
6 June 1791
19 June 1791
Alexandre, vicomte de Beauharnais
19 June 1791
3 July 1791
Charles de Lameth
3 July 1791
19 July 1791
Jacques Defermon des Chapelières
19 July 1791
30 July 1791
Alexandre, vicomte de Beauharnais
30 July 1791
13 August 1791
Charles Louis Victor, prince de Broglie
13 August 1791
27 August 1791
Théodore Vernier
27 August 1791
10 September 1791
Jacques Guillaume Thouret
10 September 1791
30 September 1791
Presidents of the Legislative Assembly (1791–1792)
Presidents of the Legislative Assembly rotated in short periods.
L'Assemblée Nationale Legislative
Presidents of the National Convention (1792–1795)
Bold indicates second term as President.
CoPS refers to Committee of Public Safety
CoGS refers to Committee of General Security
President
Began
Ended
Notes
Philippe Rühl
20 September 1792
20 September 1792
Served briefly at opening of first session as Dean.
Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve
20 September 1792
4 October 1792
Girondist : Committed suicide while in hiding June 1794.
Jean-François Delacroix
4 October 1792
18 October 1792
Executed with Danton , 5 April 1794.
Marguerite-Élie Guadet
18 October 1792
1 November 1792
Girondist : Executed 17 June 1794.
Marie-Jean Hérault de Séchelles
1 November 1792
15 November 1792
Executed with Danton , 5 April 1794.
Member of CoPS (30 May 1793 – 29 Dec 1793).
Henri Grégoire
15 November 1792
29 November 1792
Constitutional Bishop of Blois.
Bertrand Barère de Vieuzac
29 November 1792
13 December 1792
Member of CoPS (7 April 1793 – 1 September 1794).
Jacques Defermon des Chapelières
15 December 1792
27 December 1792
a Girondist who survived in hiding.
Jean-Baptiste Treilhard
27 December 1792
10 January 1793
Member of CoPS (7 Apr 1793 – 12 Jun 1793), (31 Jul 1794 – 5 Nov 1794), and (4 May 1795 – 2 Aug 1795).
Pierre-Victurnien Vergniaud
10 January 1793
24 January 1793
Girondist : Executed 31 October 1793.
Jean-Paul Rabaut Saint-Étienne
24 January 1793
7 February 1793
Girondist : Executed 5 December 1793.
Jean-Jacques Bréard
7 February 1793
21 February 1793
Member of CoPS (7 Apr 1793 – 5 Jun 1793), (31 Jul 1794 – 5 Dec 1794), (4 Jan 1795 – 4 May 1795).
Edmond Louis Alexis Dubois-Crancé
21 February 1793
7 March 1793
Armand Gensonné
7 March 1793
21 March 1793
Girondist : Executed 31 October 1793.
Jean Debry
21 March 1793
4 April 1793
Later served as member of CoGS .
Jean-François-Bertrand Delmas
4 April 1793
18 April 1793
Member of CoPS (4 Apr 1793 – 10 Jul 1793), (1 Sep 1794 – 4 Jan 1795).
Marc David Alba Lasource
18 April 1793
2 May 1793
Girondist : Executed 31 October 1793.
Jean-Baptiste Boyer-Fonfrède
2 May 1793
16 May 1793
Girondist : Executed 31 October 1793.
Maximin Isnard
16 May 1793
30 May 1793
Member of CoGS .
Girondist who survived in hiding.
François René Auguste Mallarmé
30 May 1793
13 June 1793
Jean-Marie Collot d'Herbois
13 June 1793
27 June 1793
Member of CoPS (6 Sep 1793 – 1 Sep 1794).
Jacques-Alexis Thuriot de la Rosière
27 June 1793
11 July 1793
Member of CoPS (10 Jul 1793 – 20 Sep 1793), (31 Jul 1794 – 5 Dec 1794).
Jean Bon Saint-André
11 July 1793
25 July 1793
Member of CoPS (12 Jun 1793 – 31 Jul 1794).
Georges Danton
25 July 1793
8 August 1793
Executed 5 April 1794.
Marie-Jean Hérault de Séchelles
8 August 1793
22 August 1793
See above.
Maximilien Robespierre
22 August 1793
5 September 1793
Executed 28 July 1794.
Member of CoPS (27 Jul 1793 – 27 Jul 1794).
Jacques Nicolas Billaud-Varenne
5 September 1793
19 September 1793
Member of CoPS (6 Sep 1793 – 1 Sep 1794).
Joseph Cambon
19 September 1793
3 October 1793
Member of Finance Committee, created Great Book of the Public Debt .
Louis-Joseph Charlier
3 October 1793
22 October 1793
Moyse Bayle
22 October 1793
6 November 1793
Pierre Antoine Laloy
6 November 1793
21 November 1793
Gilbert Romme
21 November 1793
6 December 1793
Committed suicide after failed Prairial Insurrection of Year III .
Jean-Henri Voulland
6 December 1793
21 December 1793
Member of CoGS .
Georges Couthon
21 December 1793
5 January 1794
Executed with Robespierre .
Member of CoPS (30 May 1793 – 27 Jul 1794).
Jacques-Louis David
5 January 1794
20 January 1794
Famous painter.
Member of CoGS .
Marc-Guillaume-Alexis Vadier
20 January 1794
4 February 1794
Member of CoGS .
Joseph-Nicolas Barbeau du Barran
4 February 1794
19 February 1794
Known as Dubarran.
Louis Saint-Just
19 February 1794
6 March 1794
Executed with Robespierre
A member of CoPS (30 May 1793 – 27 Jul 1794).
Philippe Rühl
6 March 1794
21 March 1794
Member of CoGS .
Jean-Lambert Tallien
21 March 1794
5 April 1794
Jean-Pierre-André Amar
5 April 1794
20 April 1794
Member of CoGS .
Jean-Baptiste-Robert Lindet
20 April 1794
5 May 1794
Member of CoPS (7 Apr 1793 – 12 Jun 1793), (22 Jun 1793 – 6 Oct 1794).
Lazare Carnot
5 May 1794
20 May 1794
Member of CoPS (14 Aug 1793 – 6 Oct 1794).
Director of France (4 November 1795 – 5 September 1797)
Claude-Antoine Prieur de la Côte d'Or
20 May 1794
4 June 1794
Member of CoPS (14 Aug 1793 – 6 Oct 1794).
Maximilien Robespierre
4 June 1794
19 June 1794
Presided over Festival of the Supreme Being in this term.
Élie Lacoste
19 June 1794
5 July 1794
Jean-Antoine Louis du Bas-Rhin
5 July 1794
19 July 1794
Member of CoGS .
Jean-Marie Collot d'Herbois
19 July 1794
3 August 1794
See above.
Philippe-Antoine Merlin de Douai
3 August 1794
18 August 1794
Member of CoPS (1 Sep 1794 – 4 Jan 1795), (3 Feb 1795 – 3 Jun 1795), (2 Aug 1795 – 4 Nov 1795).
Director of France (8 September 1797 – 18 June 1799).
Antoine-Christophe Merlin de Thionville
18 August 1794
2 September 1794
André Antoine Bernard de Saintes
2 September 1794
22 September 1794
André Dumont
22 September 1794
7 October 1794
Jean Jacques Régis Cambacérès
7 October 1794
22 October 1794
Napoleon's Second Consul (12 December 1799 – 18 May 1804).
Pierre Louis Prieur de la Marne
22 October 1794
6 November 1794
Member of CoPS (10 Jul 1793 – 31 Jul 1794), (6 Oct 1794 – 3 Feb 1795) .
Louis Legendre
6 November 1794
24 November 1794
Jean-Baptiste Clauzel
24 November 1794
6 December 1794
Jean-François Reubell
6 December 1794
21 December 1794
Director of France (2 November 1795 – 19 May 1799).
Pierre-Louis Bentabole
21 December 1794
6 January 1795
Étienne-François Le Tourneur de la Manche
6 January 1795
20 January 1795
Director of France (2 November 1795 – 26 May 1797).
Joseph-Stanislas Rovère de Fontvielle
20 January 1795
4 February 1795
Paul Barras
4 February 1795
19 February 1795
Director of France (2 November 1795 – 10 November 1799).
Francois Louis Bourdon de l'Oise
19 February 1795
6 March 1795
Antoine Claire Thibaudeau
6 March 1795
24 March 1795
Jean Pelet de la Lozère
24 March 1795
5 April 1795
Protestant leader.
François Antoine de Boissy d'Anglas
5 April 1795
20 April 1795
Member of CoPS (3 Jul 1795 – 4 Nov 1795).
Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès
20 April 1795
5 May 1795
Director of France (20 May 1799 – 10 November 1799).
Arranged coup of 18 Brumaire , Napoleon's Second Consul (10 November – 12 December 1799).
Théodore Vernier
5 May 1795
26 May 1795
Jean-Baptiste Charles Matthieu
26 May 1795
4 June 1795
Jean-Denis Lanjuinais
4 June 1795
19 June 1795
Jean-Baptiste Louvet de Couvrai
19 June 1795
4 July 1795
Louis Gustave le Doulcet
4 July 1795
19 July 1795
Girondist survivor.
Louis Marie de La Révellière-Lépeaux
19 July 1795
3 August 1795
Director of France (2 November 1795 – 18 June 1799).
Pierre Claude François Daunou
3 August 1795
19 August 1795
Girondist survivor.
Joseph Chénier
19 August 1795
2 September 1795
Théophile Berlier
2 September 1795
23 September 1795
Pierre-Charles-Louis Baudin
23 September 1795
8 October 1795
Jean Joseph Victor Génissieu
8 October 1795
26 October 1795
Minister of Justice and Lord Chancellor of France 5 January - 4 April 1796.
Presidents of the Council of Five Hundred (1795–1799)
Le Conseil des Cinq-Cents
Presidents of the Legislative Corps (1800–1814)
President of the Chamber of Départements' Deputies (1814–1815)
President
Began
Ended
Joseph Lainé
11 June 1814
20 March 1815
President of the Chamber of Representatives (4 June – 13 July 1815)
Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies of the Departments (1815–1830)
Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies (1830–1848)
Presidents of the National Constituent Assembly (1848–1849)
President of the National Legislative Assembly (1849–1852)
Presidents of the Legislative Corps (1852–1870)
Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies (1871–1940)
President of the Consultative Assembly (1943–1945)
Portrait
Name
Took office
Left office
Political party
Legislature(election)
Félix Gouin
9 November 1943
8 November 1945
SFIO
Provisional
Presidents of the Constituent National Assembly (1945–1946)
Presidents of the National Assembly, Fourth Republic (1946–1958)
Presidents of the National Assembly, Fifth Republic (1958–present)
External links
Chamber of Deputies of the Departments, 1815–1830 Chamber of Deputies, 1830–1848 National Constituent Assembly, 1848–1849 National Legislative Assembly, 1849–1852 Legislative Corps, 1852–1870 Chamber of Deputies, 1871–1940 Consultative Assembly, 1943–1945 Constituent National Assembly, 1945–1946 National Assembly, 1946–present