The New International Encyclopædia/Flourens, Léopold Emile

FLOURENS, Léopold Emile (1841—). A French politician, born in Paris, a brother of Gustave Flourens. He was auditor of the Imperial Council from 1863 to 1868, and in 1879 was appointed head of a department in the Ministry of Education, in which capacity he took part in all anti-clerical ordinances. In March, 1885, he became president of the departments of Legislation, Justice, and Foreign Affairs in the Government Council, and president of the Deliberative Commission on French protectorates in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1886 he became Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Goblet Cabinet, and in this capacity succeeded in peaceably adjusting the delicate affair Schnaebelé (April, 1887)—a task rendered particularly difficult by the attitude of General Boulanger, who was in favor of replying to the alleged provocation of Germany by an energetic manifesto. Flourens retained his portfolio during the Rouvier and Tirard cabinets until April, 1888. He published Organisation judiciaire et administrative de la France et de la Belgique de 1814 à 1875 (1875), for which a prize was awarded by the Academy.