Biography.guide
Home › People › Politician › Joseph Laniel
Portrait of Joseph Laniel

Joseph Laniel

1889 – 1975

Prime Minister of France

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Joseph Laniel

Lived 1889 – 1975 (aged 85). Joseph Laniel was a French politician and french resistance fighter.

Joseph Laniel (; 12 October 18898 April 1975) was a French conservative politician of the French Fourth Republic, who served as Prime Minister for a year from 1953 to 1954. During the middle of his tenure as Prime Minister Laniel was an unsuccessful candidate for the French Presidency, a post won by René Coty.

Biography Laniel was born at Vimoutiers in Normandy to a family that ran a successful textile factory.

On 10 July 1940, he voted in favour of granting the cabinet presided by Marshal Philippe Pétain authority to draw up a new constitution, thereby effectively ending the French Third Republic and establishing Vichy France. However, he later joined the French Resistance and was one of the founders of the National Council of the Resistance (CNR).

Co-founder of the Republican Party of Liberty (PRL), then of the National Center of Independents and Peasants (CNIP), Laniel's cabinet was overturned after the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in Indochina in 1954. He was succeeded by Pierre Mendès France.

During the First Indochina War, France under the Leadership of Laniel seek an armistice that was supported by United Kingdom and other countries.

Laniel's Ministry, 28 June 1953 – 19 June 1954 Joseph Laniel – President of the Council Henri Queuille – Vice President of the Council Paul Reynaud – Vice President of the Council Pierre-Henri Teitgen – Vice President of the Council Georges Bidault – Minister of Foreign Affairs René Pleven – Minister of National Defense and Armed Forces Léon Martinaud-Déplat – Minister of the Interior Edgar Faure – Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Jean-Marie Louvel – Minister of Commerce and Industry Paul Bacon – Minister of Labour and Social Security Paul Ribeyre – Minister of Justice André Marie – Minister of National Education André Mutter – Minister of Veterans and War Victims Louis Jacquinot – Minister of Overseas France Jacques Chastellain – Minister of Public Works, Transport, and Tourism Paule Coste-Floret – Minister of Public Health and Population Maurice Lemaire – Minister of Reconstruction and Housing Pierre Ferri – Minister of Posts Edmond Barrachin – Minister of Constitutional Reform Édouard Corniglion-Molinier – Minister of State

Changes 3 June 1954 – Édouard Frédéric-Dupont enters the ministry as Minister of Relations with Partner States.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Positions held
Member of the French National Assembly, President of the Council
Awards
Officer of the Legion of Honour

People in Joseph Laniel's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Joseph Laniel's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Joseph Laniel?

Prime Minister of France (1889-1975)

When was Joseph Laniel born?

Joseph Laniel was born on 12 October 1889 in Vimoutiers.

When did Joseph Laniel die?

Joseph Laniel died on 8 April 1975 in 16th arrondissement of Paris.

What was Joseph Laniel's occupation?

Joseph Laniel was a politician and french resistance fighter.

What nationality was Joseph Laniel?

Joseph Laniel was French.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Joseph Laniel

· Wikidata: Q328240

· DBpedia: Joseph Laniel

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Joseph Laniel. https://biography.guide/joseph-laniel/

MLA: "Joseph Laniel." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/joseph-laniel/.

Chicago: "Joseph Laniel." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/joseph-laniel/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:07 UTC