Colson, Léon Clément (X 1873 ; 1853-1939).

After the School of Bridges and Roads (Ecole des Ponts-et-Chaussées), he graduated in law (1878), he was admitted to the audience of the Council of State (Conseil d'Etat) (1879) and detached from his engineering service, as deputy chief then head of office of the minister of public works (until 1882). Assistant to A. Picard, director general of the railways at the ministry (1885), he became master of requests to the Council of State (Conseil d'Etat) (1892), before succeeding Picard (1894-95). In charge of the transport course at the Business School (École des Hautes Etudes Commerciales) (1895-1908), he taught political economy at the School of Bridges and Roads (Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées) (1892-1909), then at Political Science School (École Libre des Sciences Politiques-Sciences Po) (1909) and at Polytechnique (1914-29). Meanwhile, he was elected to the Academy of Moral Sciences (1910). Inspector General, he played an important role in French politics after 1918, in the preparation of laws on transport, trade, commerce, capital and labor relations. On his advice the first devaluation of the franc takes place. Councilor of State (1920), president of the financial section then lecturer at the Center for Advanced Military Studies, he presided (1929-33) the Society of Political Economy. He is vice-president of the Council of State (Conseil d'Etat) (1923-25)