About Julien Davignon
Lived 1854 – 1916 (aged 61). Julien Davignon was a Belgian politician, minister, possessor and foreign minister.
Henri François Julien Claude, Viscount Davignon (; 3 December 1854 – 12 March 1916) was a Belgian politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs (1907–1916).
Born in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Davignon was a member of the Catholic Party. He was first elected to the Belgian Senate in 1898. In 1900 he was elected to the Chamber of Representatives of which he remained a member until his death. In 1907 he became Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government led by Jules de Trooz (1907), a post he kept in the following governments of Frans Schollaert (1907–1911) and Charles de Broqueville (1911–1916). In this function at the start of the First World War he received the German ultimatum, demanding free passage through Belgium.
In January 1916 Davignon left the Foreign Office and became Minister without portfolio until his death in Nice on 12 March 1916. The day before his death he was ennobled a hereditary viscount in the Belgian nobility.
His grandson, Étienne, served as vice-president of the European Commission.
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Important facts
People in Julien Davignon's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Julien Davignon's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Julien Davignon?
Belgian politician (1854-1916)
When was Julien Davignon born?
Julien Davignon was born on 3 December 1854 in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode.
When did Julien Davignon die?
Julien Davignon died on 12 March 1916 in Nice.
What was Julien Davignon's occupation?
Julien Davignon was a politician, minister, possessor and foreign minister.
What nationality was Julien Davignon?
Julien Davignon was Belgian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Julien Davignon. https://biography.guide/julien-davignon/
MLA: "Julien Davignon." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/julien-davignon/.
Chicago: "Julien Davignon." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/julien-davignon/.
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