January 17, 1913

Raymond Poincare, (August 20, 1860 to October 15, 1934) was a French political leader. He was Prime Minister several times and Raymond Poincare on January 17, 1913 became the President of France. He represented conservative ideals, emphasizing the importance of stability. Anti-Germanic sentiment was a theme in his various tenures.  He did not think the Germans could be trusted to keep their word.

A recent biography of this French leader, Raymond Poincaré by J. F. V. Keiger  (1997) discusses his love of animals. In 1913 for example, though on a state visit, he refused to accompany the King of Spain, to a bullfight. During World War I, when the fighting threatened his residence, he supervised the removal of his dog and cat to the cellar before he protected himself. The death of his cat in 1929 is said to have produced "an outpouring of grief."

Raymond Poincare was the cousin of the famous mathematician, Henri Poincare.