Jacques Kosciusco-Morizet
Encyclopedia
Jacques Kosciusco-Morizet (or Kosciusko) (January 1, 1913 – May 15, 1994) was a noted French
university professor and diplomat
.
to a respected Polish family, Kosciusco earned a degree in ethics and sociology from the École Normale Supérieure
and taught high school in Grenoble
from 1941 to 1943. He fought in World War II
and was captured by German forces. He escaped, joined the French resistance
, and participated in the defense of the city hall
of Paris in 1944, for which he was decorated after the war.
Kosciusko served as bureaucrat
in various French ministries before becoming a diplomat. He became Chief of Staff to the Secretary General of the Prefecture of Police and Assistant at the Faculty of Letters in Paris from 1944 to 1946. He was briefly a professor at Columbia University
in 1946. He was made deputy director of the cabinet of Léon Blum
in 1946, and then Chief of Staff (Civil) for President Vincent Auriol
in 1947, a position he held until 1954. He also served Félix Houphouët-Boigny
of Côte d'Ivoire
from 1956 to 1957.
Kosciusko's international standing rose when he was France's delegate to the United Nations General Assembly
from 1957 to 1962. He was ambassador to Congo (Léopoldville)/(Kinshasa)
from 1963 to 1968, and was the French ambassador to NATO from 1969 to 1970. He was ambassador to the United Nations
from 1970 to 1972, and French ambassador to the United States from 1972 to 1977. He retired from the diplomatic corps in 1978.
Afterwards Kosciusko became involved in local French politics. He was the national secretary for foreign relations of the Rally for the Republic
party from 1983 to 1988, and was mayor of Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche
from 1977 until his death there in 1994. He was also a director of Christian Dior
between 1981 and 1993 and chairman of the supervisory board of Louis Vuitton
between 1989 and 1992.
His grand-daughter Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet
is the present Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing and is involved politically for many years at different levels.
His grand-son Pierre Kosciusko-Morizet is a co-founder of Priceminister
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
university professor and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
Biography
Born in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to a respected Polish family, Kosciusco earned a degree in ethics and sociology from the École Normale Supérieure
École Normale Supérieure
The École normale supérieure is one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles...
and taught high school in Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
from 1941 to 1943. He fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was captured by German forces. He escaped, joined the French resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
, and participated in the defense of the city hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
of Paris in 1944, for which he was decorated after the war.
Kosciusko served as bureaucrat
Bureaucrat
A bureaucrat is a member of a bureaucracy and can comprise the administration of any organization of any size, though the term usually connotes someone within an institution of a government or corporation...
in various French ministries before becoming a diplomat. He became Chief of Staff to the Secretary General of the Prefecture of Police and Assistant at the Faculty of Letters in Paris from 1944 to 1946. He was briefly a professor at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1946. He was made deputy director of the cabinet of Léon Blum
Léon Blum
André Léon Blum was a French politician, usually identified with the moderate left, and three times the Prime Minister of France.-First political experiences:...
in 1946, and then Chief of Staff (Civil) for President Vincent Auriol
Vincent Auriol
Vincent Jules Auriol was a French politician who served as the first President of the Fourth Republic from 1947 to 1954. He also served as interim President of the Provisional Government from November to December 1946, making him one of only three people who were heads of state of the French...
in 1947, a position he held until 1954. He also served Félix Houphouët-Boigny
Félix Houphouët-Boigny
Félix Houphouët-Boigny , affectionately called Papa Houphouët or Le Vieux, was the first President of Côte d'Ivoire. Originally a village chief, he worked as a doctor, an administrator of a plantation, and a union leader, before being elected to the French Parliament and serving in a number of...
of Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
from 1956 to 1957.
Kosciusko's international standing rose when he was France's delegate to the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
from 1957 to 1962. He was ambassador to Congo (Léopoldville)/(Kinshasa)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
from 1963 to 1968, and was the French ambassador to NATO from 1969 to 1970. He was ambassador to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
from 1970 to 1972, and French ambassador to the United States from 1972 to 1977. He retired from the diplomatic corps in 1978.
Afterwards Kosciusko became involved in local French politics. He was the national secretary for foreign relations of the Rally for the Republic
Rally for the Republic
The Rally for the Republic , was a French right-wing political party. Originating from the Union of Democrats for the Republic , it was founded by Jacques Chirac in 1976 and presented itself as the heir of Gaullism...
party from 1983 to 1988, and was mayor of Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche
Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche
Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France.-History:Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche was built around 4 core hamlets near the Forest of Marly...
from 1977 until his death there in 1994. He was also a director of Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...
between 1981 and 1993 and chairman of the supervisory board of Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
between 1989 and 1992.
Family
He is the father of François Kosciusko-Morizet.His grand-daughter Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet
Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet
Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet , often referred to by her initials NKM, is the current Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing of France, appointed in November 2010....
is the present Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing and is involved politically for many years at different levels.
His grand-son Pierre Kosciusko-Morizet is a co-founder of Priceminister
Priceminister
PriceMinister is the French company behind the online electronic commerce website PriceMinister.com, ranking 2nd amongst French e-shopping sites....
.