President of the directory

The Directory was officially led by a president, as stipulated by Article 141 of the Constitution of the Year III. An entirely ceremonial post, the first president was Rewbell who was chosen by lot on 2 November 1795. The Directors conducted their elections

1. Paul Barras 2 November 1795– 9 November 1799
2. Louis-Marie de la Révellière 2 November 1795– 18 June 1799
3. Roger Ducos 18 June – 9 November 1799
4. Jean-François Rewbell 2 November 1795– 16 May 1799
5. Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès 16 May – 9 November 1799
6. Lazare Carnot 2 November 1795– 4 September 1797
7. Philippe Antoine Merlin 4 September 1797– 18 June 1799
8. Jean-François Moulin 18 June – 10 November 1799
9. Étienne-François Letourneur 2 November 1795– 20 May 1797
10. François Barthélemy 20 May – 4 September 1797
11. François de Neufchâteau 4 September 1797– 15 May 1798
12. Jean-Baptiste Treilhard 15 May 1798 – 17 June 1799
13. Louis-Jérôme Gohier 17 June – 10 November 1799. After the Coup of 18 Brumaire (9 November 1799), Barras, Ducos, and Sieyès resigned. Moulin and Gohier, refusing to resign, were arrested by General Moreau.