1875 in France

Events from the year 1875 in France.

Incumbents

20 May – Convention du Mètre signed in Paris.
Cize–Bolozon viaduct opens to rail traffic across the Ain.
Gallium is discovered by Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran.{{cite journal|title=Caractères chimiques et spectroscopiques d'un nouveau métal, le gallium, découvert dans une blende de la mine de Pierrefitte, vallée d'Argelès (Pyrénées)|first=Lecoq|last=de Boisbaudran|page=493|journal=Comptes rendus de l'Académie des sciences|volume=81|url=http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k3038w/f490.table|accessdate=2008-09-23}}

5 January – The Palais Garnier, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, is inaugurated as the home of the Paris Opera.
3 March – The first performance of Bizet's Carmen at the Opéra Comique, Paris, 3 months before the composer's death.
The Flammarion publishing firm is founded in Paris.

17 February – Fanny Clar, journalist and writer (died 1944)
21 February – Jeanne Calment, supercentenarian and the oldest living person ever documented in history (died 1997)
7 March – Maurice Ravel, composer and pianist (died 1937)
27 March – Cécile Vogt-Mugnier, neurologist (died 1962)
4 April – Pierre Monteux, conductor (died 1964)
5 April – Mistinguett, singer (born 1956)
27 April – Maurice, 6th duc de Broglie, physicist (died 1960)
28 June – Henri Lebesgue, mathematician (died 1941)
31 July – Jacques Villon, painter and printmaker (died 1963)
6 August – Marcel Labey, conductor and composer (died 1968)
27 September – Cléo de Mérode, dancer (died 1966)