CAMBACERES, JEAN JACQUES REGIS, Duke of Parma, and high chancellor of the French empire, under Napoleon, was b. at Montpellier, Oct., 18, 1753. In 1791, lie was appointed president of the criminal court in his native place. Aftewards, as member of the national convention, he took a prominent part in sketching the new code of laws, and distinguished himself by his moderation. He denied the right of the convention to condemn the king, and, when this was done, argued in favor of a reprieve. After the revolution of the 9th Thermidor (July 27, 1794), C. was elected president of the con vention, and, as head of the committee of public safety, was active in procuring peace with Prussia and Spain. His enemies having succeeded in expelling him from oflice, lie engaged himself in legal studies, and laid before the council of five hundred the sketch of a civil code which afterwards formed the basis of the Code Napoleon. In 1796, C. was for a short time made president of this council. After the changes made in the directory, he was made minister of justice, assisted in the revolution of the 18th Bru maire (Nov. 9, 1799), was made second consul, and faithfully attached himself to the interest of Napoleon, by whom he was raised to the office of high chancellor of the empire, and in 1808 was made duke of Parma. He endeavored to dissuade Napoleon
from the projected invasion of Russia, but in this instance his advice was vainly given. In 1813, when Napoleon took the field against the allies, C. was left as president of the regency, and in this capacity accompanied the empress to Blois, 1814. From this place he sent to Paris his vote for the abdication of Napoleon. During the hundred days, against his own will, be was made minister of justice, and president of the chamber of peers. After the second restoration, C. lived privately in Paris for some time; but in 1816 was exiled for having taken part in the execution of Louis XVI. In 1818, his civil and political rights were restored, and he returned to Paris, where he lived retired to the time of his death, Mar. 5, 1824. Among the men of the revolution, C. was one of the few whose activity was peaceable and truly progressive. His services in the establishment of law were great. His nature was mild and candid, and his intel lect very acute.