1874 in France

Events from the year 1874 in France.

Incumbents

 * President: Patrice de MacMahon, Duke of Magenta
 * President of the Council of Ministers: Albert, duc de Broglie (until 22 May), Ernest Courtot de Cissey (starting 22 May)

Events

 * 15 March – France and the Nguyễn dynasty of Vietnam sign the Second Treaty of Saigon, further recognizing the full sovereignty of France over Cochinchina.

Arts and literature

 * 23 January – Camille Saint-Saëns' composition Danse Macabre is premiered.
 * 25 April – Louis Leroy reviews the First Impressionist Exhibition, held in Paris, and coins the term with reference to Claude Monet's Impression, Sunrise.

January to June

 * 21 January – René-Louis Baire, mathematician (died 1932)
 * 19 February – Rose Gelbert, golfer (died 1956)
 * 22 March – Jean Cau, rower.
 * 3 May – François Coty, perfume manufacturer (died 1934)
 * 14 May – Polaire (Emilie Marie Bouchaud), singer and actress (died 1939)

July to December

 * 29 July – Auguste Giroux, rugby union player (died 1953)
 * 4 September – Jean d'Orléans, duc de Guise, great-grandson of Louis Philippe I, King of the French (died 1940)
 * 4 October – Joseph d'Arbaud, poet (died 1950)
 * 25 October – Henri Bénard, physicist (died 1939)
 * 2 November – Georges Andrique, painter (died 1964)
 * 14 November – André-Gaston Prételat, general (died 1969)
 * 5 December – Henriette Caillaux, socialite and assassin (died 1943)
 * 6 December – Lucien Démanet, gymnast
 * 24 December – Yves Le Febvre, writer and politician (died 1959)