Paul PEYTRAL

Their story.

Paul Peytral was born in Marseilles in the Rue Tapis-Vert, to a family from the Hautes-Alpes. Son of a pharmacist, he studied at the Thiers high school in Marseille. He then followed in his father's footsteps in Paris by successfully completing his studies in pharmacy. In 1876, he put forward his secular and republican ideas by embarking on a political career. He was then a radical town councillor, second deputy then president of the General Council in 1881. He held various ministerial posts (Under-Secretary of State for Finance - 1886, Minister of Finance - 1888) and worked on one of the first truly comprehensive income tax projects, which was not adopted. He ended his ministerial career as Minister of the Interior in 1914. He was the father of Victor Peytral who also embarked on a career in politics.