Félix
government official French lawyer
After his graduation from the LycéeLycee of Marseille, he studied law in the city of Aix and in 1907 was admitted to the bar. During the following 17 years he practiced law, held several minor political offices, and in World War I served in the French army.
After the fall of France in World War II he opposed the Vichy government, defended LéonLeon Blum in the Riom trials of 1941, and organized resistance groups. In 1942 he fled France to join General Charles de Gaulle's movement in London.
After General de Gaulle's resignation as provisional president of France because of his conflict with the Communist members of the Constituent Assembly, Gouin became the compromise candidate of the Leftists and the MRP (Catholic party). Elected president by a large majority, Gouin served from January to June 1946, when he resigned as a constitutional step toward the establishment of the Fourth Republic. In the interim government he was elected vice-premier.
