ESQUIROS, HENRI ALritoxsE, a poet and romaneist of France, a representative in the national assembly, was b. at Paris in 1814. He made his debut as an author in 1834, when he published a volume of poems, entitled Les Hirondelles, which, although highly praised by M. Victor Hugo, had but a very limited sale. Les Hirondelles was followed by two romances, Le Magicien (1837) and Charlotte Corday (1840). About this time he also published a philosophic and democratic commentary on the life of Christ, under the title of the Evangile du PeUple (1840). For the publication of this work, E. was prosecuted, and sentenced to 8 months' imprisonment and to a fine of 500 francs, 30th Jan., 1841. In the same year he published his Chants d'un Prisonnier. He also wrote three little works between 1841 and 1842—these were Les Vierges Martyres, Les Vierges Pblles, and Les Vierges Sages. His Histoire des Montagnards appeared in 1847.
After the revolution of Feb., 1848, E. was elected a member of the legislative assembly. Distinguished by his radical opinions, he was included, after the 2d Dec., 1851, among the number of members to be expelled; on which he retired to England. His La Vie _Future au Point de Vue Socialiste appeared in 1857; and his La Morale Universelle, his L'Angleterre et in Vie Anglaise, and his La Yeerlande et in Vie Hollandaise in 1859. In 1869, he was returned to the corps legislatif for the fourth circumscription of the Bouches du Rhone; and was appointed supreme administrator of that department by the government of the national defense in 1870. In 1871, he was returned to the national assembly, and in Jan., 1870, was made a member of the senate. He died 13th May, 1876, at Versailles.