Adolphe Messimy

Adolphe Marie Messimy (31 January 1869 – 1 September 1935) was a French politician and general. He served as Minister of War at the start of the First World War.

Life
Born in Lyon in 1869, Adolphe Messimy was the eldest son of notary Paul Charles Léon Messimy and Laurette Marie Anne Girodon. He married Andrée, the daughter of Victor Cornil, whom he divorced in 1921. His second marriage was to Marie-Louise Viallar.

Messimy graduated from the military school of Saint-Cyr and started a career as a line officer. Having grown tired of military life, Messimy retired from the army in 1899 and entered politics. He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1902, serving until 1912.

Messimy became minister of colonies in the government of Ernest Monis and served from 2 March 1911 to 27 June 1911. From 27 June 1911 to 14 January 1912 Messimy served as Minister of War in the government of Joseph Caillaux. In 1914 he once more became a deputy and served until 1919. on 13 June 1914 he entered the government, lead by René Viviani, as Minister of War. When the First World War started Messimy was blamed for the failed French Plan XVII and had to resign on 26 August 1914 because his office going to Alexandre Millerand was the price for a unity government under Viviani.

After his resignation Messimy joined the army as a reserve captain. By 1915 Messimy had been promoted to lieutenant-colonel and on 27 July 1915 he was wounded in the Vosges, leading a unit of Chasseurs Alpins. Promoted to colonel, he was given command of the 6th brigade of chasseurs. Wounded again on 4 September 1916 on the Somme, Messimy was promoted to general de brigade on 11 September 1917 and transferred to command the 213th brigade of infantry. He ended the war in command of the 162th infantry division with which he liberated Colmar.

After the end of the war Messimy re-entered active politics but he was defeated for re-election in 1919. In 1923 Messimy was elected a senator and served until his death in 1935 at Charnoz-sur-Ain from the effects of a cerebral haemorrhage.