Henri Hoppenot
French commissioner-general in Indochina, 1955 to 1956
About Henri Hoppenot
Lived 1891 – 1977 (aged 85). Henri Hoppenot was a French diplomat, writer and librettist.
Henri Hoppenot (; 25 October 1891 – 10 August 1977) was a French diplomat and the last commissioner-general in Indochina (1955–1956). He also served as the French president of the United Nations Security Council from 1952 to 1955.
In August 1914, he started in the Press Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs. He became friends with Alexis Leger (later Saint-John Perse, who would maintain a friendship of more than sixty years. When they entered the ministry, there had already been diplomat-writers: Jean Giraudoux, Paul Morand and Paul Claudel.
He was a librettist for Darius Milhaud.
In 1917, he was an attaché at the Embassy of France in Berne. He married Helena Delacour.
In 1938, he was a deputy director of the Europe division at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In 1940, he was a minister plenipotentiary at Montevideo.
He rallied to Free France and headed the civil service of the military mission in Washington, DC.
In 1943, he was a delegate of the Provisional Government of the Republic to the United States. From 1945 to 1952, he was the ambassador of France in Bern after eight months of a vacancy. He aimed to restore confidence between the two countries, aided by the consul general of France in Geneva, Xavier de Gaulle, who served from 1944 to 1953. In 1951, he was an honorary member of the Museum of Fine Arts Bern.
From 1952 to 1955, he was the permanent representative of France to the UN Security Council.
From 1955 to 1956, he was the commissioner-general of France in Indochina.
From 1956 to 1964, he was a member of the French Council of State.
Together with his wife, Hélène, who was an accomplished photographer, he produced the book Extrême-Orient (Ides et Calendes, 1951) with photos taken in the Far East. (Hélène Hoppenot's photography book on Tunisia is )
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Important facts
People in Henri Hoppenot's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Henri Hoppenot?
French commissioner-general in Indochina, 1955 to 1956 (1891–1977)
When was Henri Hoppenot born?
Henri Hoppenot was born on 25 October 1891 in 8th arrondissement of Paris.
When did Henri Hoppenot die?
Henri Hoppenot died on 10 August 1977 in 1st arrondissement of Paris.
What was Henri Hoppenot's occupation?
Henri Hoppenot was a diplomat, writer and librettist.
What nationality was Henri Hoppenot?
Henri Hoppenot was French.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Henri Hoppenot. https://biography.guide/henri-hoppenot/
MLA: "Henri Hoppenot." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/henri-hoppenot/.
Chicago: "Henri Hoppenot." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/henri-hoppenot/.
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