Passion or Profession: president

Period: 1917–1972

A Catholic priest, Father Fulbert Youlou entered politics in the 1950s. Youlou served as prime minister of Congo-Brazzaville in the years leading up to independence in 1960, when he became the nation's first president. In August 1963, Youlou was forced to step down after trade unions and opposition parties led three days of strikes and riots, called Les trois glorieuses (Three glorious days). He died in exile in Madrid, Spain.