Passion or Profession: President

Period: 1935–

France Albert René was educated in Britain and worked as a lawyer in Seychelles before entering politics. He was a founder of the Seychelles People's United Party (later renamed the Seychelles People's Progressive Front) and became the country's first prime minister when Britain granted Seychelles independence in 1976. The following year, he assumed the presidency after orchestrating a coup that ousted President James Mancham. René reinstated multiparty democracy in 1991 and was reelected president in 1993, 1998, and 2001. He left office in 2004.