CONDORCET, JEAN ANTOINE NICOLAS DE CARITAT, Marquis de, an eminent French author, was h. Sept. 17, 1743, at Itibetn ont, near St. Quentin, in the department of Aisne; studied at the college of Navarre; and by his Essai stir le Cakul Integral (afterwards given in an extended form in his Essais d'Analyse), gained for himself, at an early age, a seat in the academy of sciences. With ease. and remarkable ingenuity, C. treated the most difficult problems of mathematics; but though deserving high praise, his powers lay rather in sugg,estIon than in rigorous demonstration. After the appearance of his Doges des AcaeMiclens Marts avant 1699 (Paris, 1773), he was made secretary of the academy, 1777. His theory of comets gained, in the same year, a prize in the Berlin academy. In concert with Turgot, he was induced to subject the system of the econo mists to a close examination. and was led by D'Alembert to take an active part in the Encyclopedie. In all his works—as, for example, in the Doges et Pensecs de Pascal—we find noble views of human destiny, and evidences of a truly benevolent disposition. At the revolution, he was elected member for Paris in the legislative assembly, of which he was president in 1792. In the national convention, as deputy for the department of
Aisne, he mostly voted with the Girondists, and shared in the downfall of that party. Accused, in Oct., 1703, he concealed himself, and consequently was outlawed. A gen erous lady, Mme. Verney, had the courage to provide for him a hiding-place, where he remained for some months, and in very miserable circumstances wrote his most remark able work, the Eyguisse des Pragth de l'Esprit Murrain. Having afterwards quitted his concealment, lie was arrested at Claniart, sent to Bourg-la-Heine, and cast into prison. The next morning, Mar. 28, 1794, he was found lying dead on the floor. He had, it is believed, poisoned himself. His collected works (exclusive of his mathematical essays) were edited by Gnat and Cabanis (21 vols., Paris, 1801).—His wife, SormuE DE C. (sister of marshal Grouchy), horn 1765, assisted in the literary labors of O., and also translated into French Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments. She died Sept. 6, 1822.