BEAUHARNAIS, ALEXANDRE, Vicomte de, b. 1760, in the island of Martinique, served, under Marshal Roehambeau, in the American war of independence. After wards, he went to France, but though well received by the French court, he embraced the popular cause. Elected deputy to the states-general by the nobility and the authorities of Blois, he was among the first of his order to fraternize with the Tiers Etat, or democratic party. On the night of Aug. 4, 17b9, he voted for the abolition of all privileges, and the political equality of all citizens. As a reward for his constancy to the cause of liberty, he was named secretary of the national assembly, and subsequently member of the military committee, but lost his popularity considerably by venturing to praise and defend the conduct of gen. Bovine in the sanguinary suppression of the insur rection at Nancy. The manner in which he received the news of the flight of Louis XVI. exhibits a curious mixture of contempt and dignity. "Gentlemen," said he to the over which presided, " the king has just gone off; let us pass to the order of the day." In 1793, he declined the office of minister at war, and tendered his
resignation as gen. of the army of the Rhine, because it had been determined to exclude the nobility from the service. During the reign of terror, his enemies revived the report that he had participated in the surrender of Mentz, because he had remained idle with his troops for 15 days. In consequence of this accusation, he was called front his country residence at Ferte Imbault to Paris, where he was tried and sentenced to death by the revolutionary tribunal. He submitted to his fate with firmness, and died On the scaffold, July 23. 1704, aged 34 years. His widow, Josephine, married Napoleon Bonaparte, who adopted Eugne and Hortensia, son and daughter of Beauharnais. Hor tensia was married to Louis Bonaparte, king of Holland, and became the mother of the late emperor of the French.