Background
Younger brother of Jules Ferry, Charles Ferry was born in Saint-Dié, in the département of Vosges.
Younger brother of Jules Ferry, Charles Ferry was born in Saint-Dié, in the département of Vosges.
Charles was a businessman, becoming involved in national politics during the Franco-Prussian War when he served in Paris as aide to Jules Favre, Vice-President of the Government of National Defence. After the war, Ferry was appointed prefect of Saône-et-Loire, then served as government commissioner in Corsica in October and November 1871, and prefect of Haute-Garonne thereafter until May 1873. Leaving government service, Ferry returned to business and banking.
In 1881 he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies to represent Épinal.
He served only a single term, not standing for reelection in 1885. Charles Ferry was returned to the Chamber of Deputies in 1893, representing Saint-Dié.
He was reelected in 1898 but defeated in 1902 by Edmond Gérard. Following this defeat Ferry left politics.
He died in Paris. Charles Ferry"s son Abel was also a politician.