Page "Académie française" Paragraph 14

There have been a total of 719 immortels, of whom six have been women ( the first woman, Marguerite Yourcenar, was elected in 1980 — besides the six elected women, 14 women were candidates, the first one in 1874 ).

Individuals who are not citizens of France may be, and have been, elected.

Moreover, although most academicians are writers, one need not be a member of the literary profession to become a member.

The Académie has included numerous politicians, lawyers, scientists, historians, philosophers, and senior Roman Catholic clergymen.

Five French heads of state ( Adolphe Thiers, Raymond Poincaré, Paul Deschanel, Philippe Pétain, and Valéry Giscard d ' Estaing ), and one foreign head of state ( Léopold Sédar Senghor of Senegal ) have been members.

Other famous members include Louis, duc de Broglie, Alexandre Dumas, fils, Victor Hugo, Charles, baron de Montesquieu, Louis Pasteur, Henri Poincaré, and Voltaire.