1959 in France

Incumbents

• President: Rene Coty, Charles de Gaulle
• Prime Minister: Charles de Gaulle, Michel Debré

  Events

• 8 January - Charles de Gaulle inaugurated as the first president of French Fifth Republic.
• 2 December - Dam collapses at Malpasset, killing 421 people in the resultant flood.

  Arts and literature

• 11 March - Eurovision Song Contest held in Cannes.

  Sport

• 25 June - Tour de France begins.
• 18 July - Tour de France ends, won by Federico Bahamontes of Spain.

  Births

• 1 January - Michel Onfray, philosopher and author
• 7 February - Christine Angot, novelist and playwright
• 18 March - Luc Besson, film director, writer and producer
• 14 May - Patrick Bruel, singer and actor
• 6 July - Richard Dacoury, basketball player

  Deaths

• 21 January - Yves Le Febvre, writer and politician
• 17 April - Paul Dujardin, water polo player and Olympic medallist
• 23 June - Boris Vian, writer, poet and musician