'MARTIN, Box LOUIS HENRI, b. at St. Quentin, Feb. 20, 1810; son of a magistrate of that city. At the age of 20 he was recognized as a youth of unusual elevation of mind and independence of spirit, tempered with a mild and modest manner. Educated for the practice of law he found time for his tendency to literary expression in other channels and on many diverse subjects. In partnership with another youth he pub lished a novel entitled Tour du Loup in 2 volumes, and contributed quite a number of little poems to the journals. These were followed by manrother romances. While working with Paul Lacroix, it was suggested that they should compile a history of France, to be made up of extracts from different authors. One volume was published, when Lacroix abandoned it, but Martin resolved to go on. It became an enormous labor. The first voluine of Martin's work appeared in 1837, and 18 volumes followed down to 1854. In 1844 the academy of inscription gave him a prize of 9,000 francs; in 1851 he received the first prize. In 1860 the work as far as completed was published in a new form in 16 octavo volumes. With the history of France by Thierry. it occupies the highest place. Martin is a distinguished member of the republican party in France. In
1848 he was appointed by Carnot provisional minister of public instruction, but the re actionary methods of the government induced him to resign. On the fall of Napoleon he was made mayor of one of the arrondissements of Paris, and endeavored, without suc cess, to dissuade the communists from their assumption of the government. He was elected from two districts to the national assembly, which he entered early in 1871, and took his seat with the extreme left. In July, 1871, he was elected a member of the academy of moral and political science, and in October councilor-general of his native department de l' Aisne. Besides the history of France the following are among his works: Minuit et Midi, 1832, reprinted in 1855 under the title of Tancrede de Roh,an; L'Abbaye au-Bois, ou la Femme de Chambre; Histoire de Soissons, 1837; De la France, de son genie et de ses destinees, 1847; Daniel lfauin, 1855; L' Unite Italien et la France, 1861; Jean Rey navel, 1863; Pologne et Moscovie,1863; Vercingetorix, 1865; La Russie d'Europe, 1866; Histoire de France populaire, 1867; Etudes d'archeologie Celtigue.