BUFFET

buffet, louis joseph (1818-1898), french statesman, was born at mirecourt. after the revolution of february 1848 he was elected deputy for the department of the vosges, and in the assembly sat on the right, pronouncing for the repression of the insurrection of june 1848 and for louis napoleon bonaparte. he was minister of agriculture from august to december 1849 and from august to october 1851. re-elected deputy in 1863, he was one of the supporters of the "liberal empire" of emile ollivier, being finance minister in ollivier's cabinet from january to the 10th of april 1870. he was president of the national assembly from the 4th of april 1872 to the 10th of march 1875, and minister of the interior in 1875. then, elected senator for life (1876), he pronounced himself in favour of the _coup d'etat_ of the 16th of may 1877. buffet had some oratorical talent, but shone most in opposition.