BOULANGER, Georges Ernest Jean Marie, French soldier: b. Rennes, 29 April 1837; d. Brussels, 30 Sept. 1891. He went to Algeria in 1853, where his coolness under fire was very noticeable. In 1859 he was severely wounded at the battle of Turbigo, and was awarded the cross of the Legion of Honor. In the war with Prussia he distin guished himself at both sieges of Paris. He was sent to the United States in 1881 as head of the French delegation sent to offer con gratulations on the centenary of Yorktown. As director of infantry (1882) he effected some salutary reforms. Appointed a general of division m Tunis in 1884, his resignation was precipitated by a conflict with the civil authority. In 1886 he became Minister of War in Freycinet's Cabinet, and the fact that a new man was in possession of that portfolio was speedily felt. He introduced many needful reforms, insisted on the adoption of a repeat ing rifle, caused important experiments to be made with high explosives, reduced the period of service in the army from five to three years and became the hope of the disaffected ele ments and the promoters of the policy of la revanche. In the ministerial crisis of 1887 he
lost his portfolio and was appointed to the command of the 13th army corps, but as he had become a menace to the republic, he was retired, 28 March 1888. In January 1889 he was elected deputy to the National Assembly by 81,000 majority, in consequence of which the Floquet ministry resigned. In August 1889 he was charged with embezzlement, trey son and conspiracy, and found guilty by the Senate; the elections in the 12 cantons were annulled, and he was sentenced to deportation, He had been the tool of Royalists, Bonapart ists and extreme radicals, the sinews of war for his propaganda being provided — as re vealed in the Paris Figaro — by the Royalists, He committed suicide by shooting himself On the grave of Mlle. de Bonnemaine, his mis tress.