Coty, René (1882–1962)

French centrist politician and head of state. As second president of the Fourth Republic 1954–59, Coty called on the National Assembly to invest General Charles de Gaulle as prime minister following the coup in Algiers in May 1958, and backed this with the threat of his own resignation.

A lawyer by training, his long parliamentary career from 1923 was based in his home town of Le Havre. Coty was a compromise candidate for the presidency, entering the election on the 11th ballot and elected on the 13th ballot in December 1953.