Emmanuel Desgrées du Loû

Emmanuel-Marie Desgrées du Loû (22 February 1867 in Vannes – 17 February 1933 in Rennes) was a French lawyer, journalist, press owner, and a politically active Christian.

A Christian activist, he campaigned for the Ralliement. As a journalist, he managed several publications and co-founded the major regional daily newspaper L'Ouest-Éclair. A pioneer of Christian democracy, he helped establish the Popular Democratic Party.

Biography

Born into the Breton Desgrées du Loû family, Emmanuel was the son of Henri Desgrées du Loû, an officer, and Philomène Gobbé de La Gaudinais. His brother was the future colonel Xavier Desgrées du Loû.

He studied law and later joined the French Navy Commissariat, becoming a trainee commissioner in 1889 and an assistant commissioner in 1891.

He resigned to become a lawyer in Brest in 1892, where he quickly gained recognition, particularly for his social and religious work. He contributed to the newspapers L'Univers and La Justice Sociale. He was associated with Albert de Mun, Abbé Gayraud, and, in 1894, founded the Catholic Workers' Committee in Brest.

In 1897, during legislative elections, he was convicted due to bulletins printed in his name. He campaigned for the Ralliement throughout Brittany, collaborating with Abbé Félix Trochu and Abbé Cublet to develop social initiatives like agricultural unions and rural credit unions.

He led L'Ouest-Éclair to become the leading regional newspaper and served as its political director until his death in 1933.