Poinso-Chapuis, Germaine (1901–1981)

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Poinso-Chapuis, Germaine (1901–1981)

French government official. Born Germaine Chapuis, Marach 6, 1901, in Marseilles, France; died 1981; dau. of Sophie (Chamontin) Chapuis and Léon Chapuis; University of Aix-en-Provence, licentiate in law, 1921, PhD, 1923; m. Henri Poinso (jurist), Nov 18, 1930.

Joined the syndicalist movement and the Popular Democratic Party; advocated suffrage for women and worked to improve working conditions for female employees; organized a municipal social agency in Marseilles; during WWII, joined the resistance and helped Jewish refugees escape; elected to the National Constituent Assembly (Oct 1946), to represent the Bouches-du-Rhône district for the Popular Republican Movement (MRP); appointed minister of Public Health and Population, the 1st woman to achieve rank of Cabinet minister in France (Nov 24, 1947).