Adolphe Crémieux

Overview

Isaac Adolphe Crémieux (1796–10 February 1880) was a prominent French Jewish lawyer, statesman, and president of the Alliance Israélite Universelle (1863–1880). He served twice as Minister of Justice — under the Second Republic (1848) and the Government of National Defence (1870–1871) — and is best known for the Crémieux Decree (1870), which granted French citizenship to Algerian Jews. He died in Paris on 10 February 1880, just weeks before the diary entry in which "Mme Crémieux" is mentioned (26 May 1880). The reference to "Mme Crémieux" almost certainly denotes his widow, who continued to appear in Parisian society after his death. The "radical deputy" mentioned alongside her in the same passage suggests the Crémieux family's continued connection to the Republican Left.

Historical Context

At the Mouzay soiree of 26 May 1880, Marie notes: "Mme Crémieux et le député radical avec sa famille." This was a few months after Adolphe's death; Mme Crémieux (née Amélie Silny, 1810–1882) was a known philanthropist in her own right. The "radical deputy" may be a relative or associate of the family. Note: aliases include "Mme Crémieux" since in context the entry functions as a reference to his widow.

References in Diary

• 1880-05-26: "Mme Crémieux et le député radical avec sa famille." (Mme Cremieux and the Radical deputy with his family, at a soiree at Mme Mouzay's.)

Sources

Wikipedia: Adolphe Crémieux; Britannica: Adolphe Crémieux