Paul Henri Marie Joseph Marchandeau, (French pronunciation:[pɔlɑ̃ʁimaʁiʒozɛfmaʁʃɑ̃do];Gaillac, Tarn on 10 August 1882 - Paris15th on 31 May 1968), was a lawyer, journalist and FrenchRadical Socialist politician. He was awarded theCroix de guerre and theLégion d'honneur for his actions duringWorld War I. From 1925 until 1942, he was themayor ofReims. During the 1930s, he was, successively, French minister of finance, minister of the interior, minister of justice, and minister of the budget.
He was the first captain of the rugby club of theUA Gaillac of 1900–1901.[1] More precisely, he was the captain of the Glaïeuls (school team) and Stade Gaillacois (civil athletic association) (the Athletic Union Gaillacoise not being formed until 20 December 1940).
In 1911, he started with theÉclaireur de l'Est (Light of the East) and quickly became editor and CEO.
He was elected to thecity council and becamemayor ofReims in 1925 until he resigned in 1942.
He was president of theAssociation des maires de France (Association of Mayors of France) in 1934.
He was electedGeneral Councilor of the 3rd canton in 1935 and president of theGeneral Council of the Marne in 1937.
He is a member of theMasonic lodge ofReims La Sincérité, and was one of many elected Freemasons of the Marne.[2]
In 1926, Paul Marchandeau began a political career on the national level. ElectedDeputy ofMarne, he has first a number of terms asUndersecretary of State.
AsKeeper of the Seals, he was the author of the decree of 21 April 1939 amending theLaw on the Freedom of the Press of 29 July 1881 by providing prosecution "when defamation or insult committed against a group of persons, by their origin, race or religion, will have been designed to arouse hatred among citizens or residents" (translated). This law was repealed by the law of the Vichy government of 16 August 1940.[3]
On 10 July 1940, the vote in favor of the draft law granting full powers to MarshalPhilippe Pétain. He continued his political career under the Vichy regime during World War II (Mayor ofReims, president of the association of mayors of France, receiving the title in August 1942 from Marshal Petain and Pierre Laval). He resigned and retired from political life in 1943.[4]
He was cremated atPère Lachaise Cemetery and his ashes were brought back to be buried in the SouthCemetery of Reims where you can see his bronze medallion by Leon Margotin (1859–1937), dated 1930.
KnightLegion of Honor; he holds theCroix de guerre 1914–1918.
