FREYCINET, LOUIS-CHARLES DE SAULCES de. — French politician, born on 14 November 1828 at Foix (Ariège), died on 15 May 1923 in Paris. A graduate of the École polytechnique in Paris, he was an engineer with the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Midi and subsequently entered the state administration. Senator in 1876, he became Minister of Public Works the following year; President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 29 December 1879 to 19 September 1880, he was confronted with the
question of teaching by the religious Congregations.
According to the well-known seventh article of the bill presented in 1879 by the then Minister of Public Instruction, J. Ferry, public teaching was prohibited to the Jesuits and to members of religious Congregations not recognized by the State. After being approved by the Chamber, the article was rejected by the Senate; nevertheless, the Chamber subsequently approved an order requiring the government to apply the laws concerning unauthorized Congregations and compelling the ministry to issue, on 29 March 1888, two decrees, one concerning the suppression of the Society of Jesus in French territory, the other concerning the obligation of state recognition for unauthorized Congregations. Desirous of avoiding excessive friction with the Holy See, F. began negotiations with Rome in order to resolve by mutual agreement the implementation of the second of the aforementioned decrees; but, having encountered the hostility of the Chamber and of his fellow ministers, he was forced to resign. Subsequently, he was President of the Council several other times and headed the Foreign Affairs and War ministries. During the First World War he was a minister without portfolio. He published his memoirs (Mes souvenirs 1846-93, Paris 1911-13).