France-Albert Rene

France-Albert René (French: [fʁɑ̃s albɛʁ ʁəne]; 16 November 1935 – 27 February 2019) was a Seychellois lawyer, politician and revolutionary who served as the second President of Seychelles from 1977 to 2004, following a coup d'état that ousted the country's founding president James Mancham. He previously served as the nation’s second and final Prime Minister, from independence in 1976 until the abolition of the post in 1977. He was a leading figure of the Seychelles People’s Progressive Front, later known as United Seychelles.

== Early life ==

France-Albert René was born to Price René, a plantation manager and administrator, and Luisa Morgan René, a seamstress, on 16 November 1935 in Victoria, on the island of Mahé, Crown Colony of Seychelles. He spent his early childhood in Farquhar Atoll before returning to the city at the age of five. There, he attended St Joseph's Convent and later Saint Louis College. At the age of 17, René was awarded a scholarship to study theology at the Capuchin Seminary of St. Maurice in Valais, Switzerland. After his first year, he transferred to St Mary's College, Southampton, England, to study law. In 1957, he graduated from King's College London and joined...