Raymond Poincaré - Sa candidature à l’Institut au fauteuil d'Émile Gebhart - Lettre autographe signée à Henri Mézière - 1909

Autograph letter signed by Raymond Poincaré, dated January 16, 1909, addressed to Alfred Mézières. Written in blue ink on a double sheet of laid paper with a watermark and printed letterhead bearing his address at 26, Avenue des Champs Élysées. A note written by a former collector is included.

Letter addressed to Alfred Mézières, then president of the French Academy, concerning Poincaré's candidacy at the Institute for the seat of Émile Gebhart:

"Dear Mr. Mézières,
I visited you today but did not have the pleasure of meeting you. I had a request to make: would you allow me to express it to you in writing?
All my friends at the academy give me hope that I will be elected on March 18th. If their encouraging predictions come true, I know that you will be one of those who have most kindly contributed to my success. Therefore, I would be happy and proud if you would agree to present my credentials on March 11th. [...] Do not bother to reply. When I have the pleasure of seeing you at the Senate, you will tell me frankly whether it is possible for you to grant my request, and whatever your decision, I will remain grateful and devoted to you.

He was indeed elected on March 18, 1909, to the seat of Émile Gebhart (no. 36), and received under the Dome on November 18, 1909, by Paul Deschanel. This letter sheds light on the personal and institutional dimension of his academic campaign.

Dimensions: 11.3 x 17.8 cm
Condition: Good condition. See photos for more details.
Number of pages: 3 pages

Raymond Poincaré, born on August 20, 1860 in Bar-le-Duc and died on October 15, 1934 in Paris, was a French lawyer and statesman. He was President of the French Republic from February 18, 1913 to February 18, 1920. (Wikipedia)