Isaac Adolphe Crémieux

Born Apr. 30, 1796, in Nimes; died Feb. 10, 1880, in Paris. French politician.

Crémieux was a lawyer who rose to prominence because of his role in the political trials of the 1830’s and 1840’s. He belonged to the moderately liberal “dynastic opposition,” which called for wider participation of the industrial bourgeoisie in the state administration. He helped bring down the government of F. P. G. Guizot and raise O. Barrot to the post of premier. After the February Revolution of 1848, Crémieux was a member of the provisional government as minister of justice and helped abolish black slavery in the French colonies. Between 1848 and 1851, Crémieux was a member of the Constituent Assembly and later of the Legislative Assembly.

After Louis Bonaparte’s coup d’etat on Dec. 2, 1851, Crémieux left active political life to return to his legal practice. In 1869 he was elected to the legislature. After the Revolution of Sept. 4, 1870, he became minister of justice in the Government of National Defense. Crémieux supported L. M. Gambetta and urged the continuation of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71. From 1871 to 1875 he served as deputy in the National Assembly, where he belonged to the bloc of leftist Republicans. Crémieux was elected senator for life in 1875.