DUMAS, .MArrHtEu, Count, 1753-1837; a French soldier and military historian. He entered upon active service in the army in 1780 as aid to Rochambeau, commander of the French force sent to the aid of the Americans then in revolt against England. He was in a number of engagements, including the capture of Yorktown. After peace, he returned to France. In the revolution of 1789, he acted with Lafayette and the constitutional liberal party. In 1791, lie was elected to the assembly, and the next year was chosen president of that body. During the reign of terror he absented him self from France, with some brief intervals. In 1797, he was proscribed as a monarchist, and fled to Holstein. When Bonaparte became first consul he was recalled, and appointed chief of staff to the army of Dijon. He was subsequently councilor of state, and grand officer of the legion of honor, whose organization he defended before the corps legislatif. He went with Joseph Bonaparte to Naples, and was made minister of war. In 1808-9, he served in the French army in Spain and Germany, and after the battle of Wagram he was employed in negotiating the armistice. He was intendant
general of the army in the 'Russian campaign, an office which involved the charge of the entire administrative department. He shared the horrors of the retreat from Mos cow, took part in the battles of Lutzen and Brantzen, and after the defeat at Leipsic was employed to negotiate the capitulation; but his terms were not accepted by the allied powers, and lie was arrested and imprisoned until the conclusion of peace in 1814. He was in favor under the temporary restoration, and held important commissions. When Napoleon returned from Elba, Dumas was intrusted with the organizing of the national guards. This put him out of favor with the Bourbons, and when Louis XVIII. was finally restored, lie was obliged to retire on half-pay. He then finished his review of military events, in 19 vols., embracing the history of the war from 1798 to 1807. In 1818, he was restored to favor, and made a member of the council of state; in 1828, he was a deputy in the assembly from Paris. After the events of 1830, he was made a peer, and re-entered the council of state as president of the war committee.