François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was born on October 26, 1916, in Jarnac, Charente, to Joseph Mitterrand and Yvonne Lorrain. Raised in a devoutly Catholic and conservative family, Mitterrand initially aligned with Catholic nationalist movements and briefly associated with far-right organizations during his youth.

After completing his education at the Collège Saint-Paul in Angoulême and the École Libre des Sciences Politiques in Paris, where he obtained a diploma in 1937, Mitterrand became involved in politics. He briefly joined the Volontaires nationaux, a far-right group, and wrote for L'Echo de Paris, a newspaper close to the French Social Party (PSF).

During World War II, Mitterrand served in the French Army, was captured by the Germans in 1940, and became a prisoner of war (POW). His experiences in captivity and interactions with fellow POWs led to a shift in his political views towards the left. Mitterrand returned to France after escaping in December 1941 and worked for the Vichy government while claiming to serve as a spy for the Free French Forces.

In 1943, Mitterrand fully engaged in the resistance, creating a network of former POWs known as the POWs National Rally (RNPG). He played a significant role in resistance activities and was exposed to Nazi concentration camps, prompting a shift towards agnosticism.

After World War II, Mitterrand reentered politics and won a seat in the November 1946 legislative election as a deputy from the Nièvre département. He held various ministerial positions in the Fourth Republic and participated in the Congress of The Hague in 1948, advocating for European unity.

In the Fifth Republic, Mitterrand continued to be a prominent opposition figure, opposing Charles de Gaulle's nomination as head of government and his plan for a Fifth Republic. He founded the Convention of Republican Institutions (CIR) and later opposed de Gaulle's constitutional reforms.

In 1965, Mitterrand ran for president, representing a coalition of left-wing parties, and reshaped left-wing politics in France. He consolidated his position within the Socialist Party (PS) and advocated for electoral alliances with other left-wing parties, leading to the formation of the Union of the Left.

Mitterrand ran for president again in 1974, narrowly losing to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. He retained leadership of the PS and won the party's nomination for the 1981 presidential election. Campaigning on a platform of "another politics," Mitterrand secured victory, becoming the first left-wing president of France elected by universal suffrage.

As president, Mitterrand implemented left-wing economic policies, social welfare reforms, and cultural initiatives. He faced challenges, including economic crises, internal party rivalries, and foreign policy controversies.

Mitterrand served two terms as president, from 1981 to 1995, and died in Paris on January 8, 1996, at the age of 79, from prostate cancer. His funeral was declared a national day of mourning, attended by dignitaries from around the world. Mitterrand's legacy includes his contributions to French politics, the rise of the Socialist Party, and his efforts to promote European integration and social welfare.

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Mitterrand