Adolphe Thiers

Born in Marseille in 1797, Adolphe Thiers first made his name in Paris as a journalist. He helped found the newspaper Le National in 1830, wrote influential historical works on the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, and built a reputation as one of the most energetic political voices of his time.

Thiers went on to serve several times under the July Monarchy, including as premier and foreign minister. Britannica describes him as a founder and the first president of the Third Republic, while other reliable sources also note that he played a central role in the difficult years after France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War.

Remembered both as a man of letters and a controversial statesman, he combined historical writing with practical politics in a way few figures of his century did. For listeners interested in French history, his career opens a window onto revolution, monarchy, empire, and republic all at once.