MASSENA, A/4'mi, Duke of Rivoli, prince of Essling, and a marshal of France, was born at Nice, May 6, 1758. In his youth, he served as a ship-boy in a small vessel, and afterwards 14 years in the Sardinian army, but left it because his plebeian birth precluded him from promotion. Early in the French revolution, he joined a battalion of volun teers, 'and soon rose to high military rank. In Dec., 1793, he was made a general of division. He greatly distin
-chief command in Spain, and compelled the British and their allies to fall back to Lisbon; but being unable to make any impression on Wellington's strong position at Torres Vedras, he resigned his command. He offered his services, howevei, again, when Napoleon was preparing for the Russian campaign, but was only intrusted with the command in Provence, and in this position he remained till the restoration, when he ,gave in his adhesion to the Bourbons, and was made a peer. On Napbneon's return from Elba, he invited Massena to follow him, but received no response. After the second restoration, Massena retired into private life. He died April 4, '.:151.7. Massena was one of the ablest of Napoleon's genemls, but he was as extorti3mze as a Roman pretor. His master called him a robber, and is said to have offer...C. aim a present of 1,000,000 francs if he would give up peculation.