Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte

President of the Republic · 1848-1852 · born on 20 April 1808, died on 9 January 1873

Nephew of Napoleon I, Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte was elected President of the Republic on 10 December 1848, becoming the first president of the French Republic.

His coup d’état of 2 December 1851 overthrew the Republic and kept him in power; he restored the Empire in 1852 and took the name Napoleon III.

Key dates

• 1848: Revolution and the Second Republic

In the tree of power

• Era: Second Republic
• Predecessor: Louis-Philippe Ier (1830-1848)
• Successor: Napoléon III (1852-1870)

Further reading

• Test your knowledge with the quiz
• All political figures
• Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte on Wikipedia (in French)