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Georges Clemenceau. (credit: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.)

(born Sept. 28, 1841, Mouilleron-en-Pareds, France — died Nov. 24, 1929, Paris) French statesman and journalist. A doctor before turning to politics, he served in the Chamber of Deputies (1876 – 93), becoming a leader of the radical republican bloc. He founded the newspapers La Justice (1880), L'Aurore (1897), and L'Homme Libre (1913) and came to be ranked among the foremost political writers of his time. His support for Alfred Dreyfus brought him into favour, and he served in the Senate (1902 – 20). He served as interior minister in 1906 and as premier (1906 – 09). During World War I, at age 76, he became premier again (1917 – 20), and his steadfast pursuit of the war won him the title "Father of Victory." He also helped frame the postwar Treaty of Versailles, endeavouring to reconcile French interests with those of Britain and the U.S. Defeated in a presidential election in 1920, he retired from politics.

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