Gambetta, Leon Michel. Born in 1838. French statesman. Son of a grocer of Cahors. Went as a young man to Paris with the object of practicing at the bar, but did nothing remarkable until his 30th year. In 1868 he attracted notice by his conduct of the defense in the "Proces Delescluze," and in the next year was elected deputy for both Paris and Marseilles, when he immediately became the most influential member of the Opposition. After the outbreak of the war, in the midst of the siege of Paris, he went to Tours in a balloon, and was chiefly instrumental in organizing the government and the conduct of the war. During the years between the treaty of peace that followed and 1879, Gambetta was chiefly occupied with the progressive development of Opportunism. In the latter year it was his influence which, in the main, brought about the abdication of MacMahon. On the election of M. Grevy, Gambetta became president of the chamber and, in 1881, prime minister of France. Gambetta died in 1882.

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