Eugene Rouher, a French politician born in Riom, Nov. 30, 1814. He became an advocate, and was returned in 1818 to the constituent, and in 1849 to the legislative assembly. He was minister of justice under Louis Napoleon as president from Oct. 31 of the same year to January, 1851, again from April till October, and from Dec. 2 till the confiscation of the Orleans estates (Jan. 22, 1852), which he assigned as a motive for his resignation; but a few days afterward he returned to office as vice president of the council of state. In February, 1855, he became minister of agriculture, commerce, and public works; in June, 1856, he was made a senator; and he was president of the council of state from Oct. 18, 1863, till Jan. 19, 1867, when he resigned in consequence of the emperor's announcement of a more liberal policy; but he was at once reinstated as the head of the cabinet with the additional portfolio of the finances, and remained in office till July 13, 1869, a few days after which date he was appointed president of the senate. He was identified with all the foreign and internal affairs which proved fatal to the second empire, and after its downfall (Sept. 4, 1870) he fled.

When he ventured to return to France he was a short time under arrest; yet he was elected to the assembly at Versailles in February, 1872, and continued to be a member of it in 1875 as a champion of Napoleon IV.