Louis-Eugène Cavaignac

French general and politician (1802-1857)

Louis-Eugène Cavaignac (French pronunciation: ​[lwi øʒɛn kavɛɲak]; 15 October 1802 in Paris – 28 October 1857) was a French general. He was Chief of the Executive Power between June 1848 to December 1848. He also was Prime Minister of France at the same time.[1]

Louis-Eugène Cavaignac
Chief of the Executive Power
In office
28 June 1848 – 20 December 1848
Preceded byFrançois Arago
as President of the Executive Commission
Succeeded byLouis-Napoléon Bonaparte
as President of the Republic
Prime Minister of France
In office
28 June 1848 – 20 December 1848
Preceded byFrançois Arago
Succeeded byOdilon Barrot
Minister of War
In office
17 May 1848 – 29 June 1848
PresidentExecutive Commission
Prime MinisterFrançois Arago
Preceded byJean-Baptiste-Adolphe Charras
Succeeded byJuchault de Lamoricière
In office
20 March 1848 – 5 April 1848
PresidentJacques Dupont de l’Eure
Prime MinisterJacques Dupont de l’Eure
Preceded byJacques Gervais Subervie
Succeeded byFrançois Arago
Governor of Algeria
In office
24 February 1848 – 29 April 1848
PresidentJacques Dupont de l’Eure
Prime MinisterJacques Dupont de l’Eure
Preceded byHenri d'Orléans
Succeeded byNicolas Changarnier
Personal details
Born15 October 1802
Paris, French Republic
Died28 October 1857(1857-10-28) (aged 55)
Ourne, Sarthe, French Empire
Political partyModerate Republican
Signature

Cavaignac was notorious for his brutal suppression of a workers’ uprising in 1848, which led to the deaths and executions of thousands of people.[2] Ironically, despite his crushing of the worker insurgents, and his hostility to the socialists, Cavaignac nevertheless understood the plight of the workers. Under his government numerous interventionist economic measures and social reforms were carried out.[3] Unemployment relief was provided while various steps were taken to boost economic recovery and create jobs. According to one study, “Cavaignac’s interest in the workers was attested by the numerous proposals offered by his government in their favor, and by the large number of documents concerning social and economic problems that he preserved in his papers.” Cavaignac supported, for instance, legal maximums on the length of the workday, along with a proposal for government-administered and compulsory sickness and old-age insurance for workers. He believed this was necessary due to industry not providing salaries sufficient enough to allow for adequate savings. His social insurance plan was, however, defeated.[4]

Measures were taken to improve conditions for workers within the Interior Ministry,[5] while government aid to producers’ cooperatives was implemented. Maximum hours legislation for male factory workers was successfully sponsored by the government. Other labor reforms introduced earlier in 1848, such as the abolition of the “marchandage,” were preserved. The Caviagnac Government also introduced other labor reforms, such as sickness and accident insurance for workers on public works projects.[6] Under this reform, the state paid medical treatment and provided disability payments to injured workers or their survivors. An order was also issued (applying to regulations for state contracts) providing for the wages of workers to be guaranteed in case of an employer’s bankruptcy.[7] Important reforms in public assistance were carried out,[8] while the government also extended a previous labor reform under which workers were given equal representation with employers in the labor courts.[9] Relief was also provided to unemployed people in Paris , at the daily rate of thirty-five centimes per person.[10]

References

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  1.   This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cavaignac, Louis Eugène". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 561.
  2. Karl Marx An Intellectual Biography By Rolf Hosfeld, 2012, P.76
  3. THE FRENCH REPUBLIC UNDER CAVAIGNAC 1848 by Frederick A. de Luna, 1969, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, P.253
  4. THE FRENCH REPUBLIC UNDER CAVAIGNAC 1848 by Frederick A. de Luna, 1969, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, P.254-255
  5. THE FRENCH REPUBLIC UNDER CAVAIGNAC 1848 by Frederick A. de Luna, 1969, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, P.261
  6. THE FRENCH REPUBLIC UNDER CAVAIGNAC 1848 by Frederick A. de Luna, 1969, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, P.408
  7. THE FRENCH REPUBLIC UNDER CAVAIGNAC 1848 by Frederick A. de Luna, 1969, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, P.305
  8. THE FRENCH REPUBLIC UNDER CAVAIGNAC 1848 by Frederick A. de Luna, 1969, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, P.409
  9. THE FRENCH REPUBLIC UNDER CAVAIGNAC 1848 by Frederick A. de Luna, 1969, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, P.302
  10. France and 1848 The End of Monarchy By William Fortescue, 2005, P.136