In a direct-current voltage-driven magnetic contactor, a main contact is in an open circuit condition in an attraction period of an initial period of excitation by an operating coil, and in a closed circuit condition in a subsequent holding period, and a drive circuit includes a direct-current power supply voltage detecting circuit that gives a start signal when an applied voltage of a exciting direct-current power supply exceeds a predetermined value, a first drive circuit that makes a starting semiconductor switching element perform an ON operation on receiving the start signal, and a second drive circuit that makes a current limiting semiconductor switching element perform a switching operation when a terminal voltage of a charging capacitor reaches the predetermined value.