Louis-Eugène Cavaignac was a French general and politician who served as head of state of France between June and December 1848, during the French Second Republic.
Before coming to power, as Minister of War in the French provisional government he was tasked with putting down the June Days uprising, a large-scale revolt in Paris against the National Assembly, and was temporarily given emergency powers to do so. After suppressing the insurrection he renounced his dictatorial powers and was confirmed by the National Assembly as the provisional head of state of France, serving as "Chief of the Executive Power" for nearly six months until the 1848 presidential election, in which he ran but came in second place after Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte.