MA.GNE, PIERRE, 1806-78, b. France; was employed when a young man by the prefect of Dordogne; and afterwards pursued the study of jurisprudence at Toulouse. Returning to Perigueux, his native place, he entered upon the practice of his profession. His talents did not escape the notice of the government, which made him, in 1835, a councilor to the prefecture of the Dordogne. He was elected to the chamber of deputies in 1843, and soon came to be considered an authority in its financial discussions, in which he took part as a member of the committee on the budget. He became an under secretary in the war department in 1847, but resigned upon the outbreak of the revolu tion in 1848, and retired to Perigueux, whence, the following year, he was recalled to take the place of under-secretary in the ministry of finance. He. was transferred to the department of public works in 1850. He withdrew from the cabinet in consequence of the dissension among its members in regard to the confiscation of the estates of the Orleans family. He was chosen senator in 1852, and in July of that year re-entered the cabinet, in his old position as minister of public works. In 1853 he was appointed min
ister of commerce and agriculture, and in 1855 minister of finance. His knowledge of and talent for finance Were remarkable, tied though be occasionally resigned or was transferred to some other department, on account of his inability to agree with his col leagues, or to carry out some favorite iluancial scheme, he was always sure to be recalled.
He was out of office from 1863 to 1867, when he was re-instated as the only- man who could successfully place the great loan, whose negotiation France was then contemplat-, ing. When Emile 011ivier was invited by the emperor, Dec. 27, 1869, to form a new ministry, Magne went out of office; and his place was taken by M. Buffet. lie returned to the treasury when the due de Broglie took oflice;April 24, 1873, and went • out with the de Broglie ministry, May 16, 1874. At the time de Broglie formed his cabinet, Magne was serving in the national assembly, to which he had been returned from the department cif the Dordogne. His last public office was that of a senator for the Dor dogne, to which office he VMS elected in 1876.