CONDORCET, lorki'd6rPse, Marie Jean Antoine Nicolas de Caritat, Marquis de, French philosopher and mathematician: b. Ribemont, Picardy, 17 Sept. 1743; d. Clamat, 28 March 1794. He was educated by the Jesuits and showed a taste for mathematics at a very early age. Later he studied at the College of Navarre at Paris. At the age of 21 he pre sented to the Academy of Sciences an (Essai sur le calcul integral? His (Memoir sur le probleme des trois points' appeared in 1767. Both worlcs were afterward united under the title of (Essais d'analyse.' The merit of this work gained for him in 1769 the distinction of a seat in the Academy of Science. With astonishing facility and versatility Condorcet treated the most difficult problems in mathematics; but his genius inclined him rather to lay down beauti ful formulas than to pursue them to useful ap plications. He became the friend of D'Alem bert, Turgot and Voltaire, whose opinions in fluenced him greatly. His mind seized upon social problems, which he solved in a manner equally as brilliant as that of his famous con temporaries. In defense of free internal trade in corn, he wrote (Lettre d'un laboureur de Picardie I M. N.> and (Reflexions sur le com merce des bles' (1776). Against religious domination he wrote (Lettre d'un theologien? He also supported the American Revolution with great enthusiasm. His principal writings on this subject are (Lettres d'un citoyen des Etats-Unis sur les affaires presentes) (1788); (Lewes d'un bourgeois de Newhaven a. un citoyen de Virginie (1787) ; (Reflexion sur l'esclavage des negres) (1781). D'Alembert persuaded him to contribute to the (Encyclo pedic? to which he responded by his facile and brilliant (Eloges des academiciens de l'Acade mie Royale des Sciences morts depuis 1666 jusqu'en 1699' (1773). The ability which he manifested in this work gained for him the life secretaryship of the Academy of Sciences. In 1777 his (Theory of Comets' gained the prize offered by the Academy of Berlin. The aversion of the minister Maurepas to Condor cet delayed his entrance into the French Acad emy till 1782. In 1785 appeared a distinguished mathematical treatise on the doctrine of prob ability. In the following year he married Sophie de Grouchy, a sister of Marshal Grouchy, a talented and beautiful woman. At about this time Condorcet became inspector-general of the mint, and at his residence at the Hotel des Monnaies, there gathered the 6Intellectip of Paris. His (Vie de Turgot) and (Vie de Vol taire' appearing in 1786-87 became popular im mediately. In point of style they are the best of his works.
When the Revolution finally came, Condor cet's eager and indefatigable pen rushed to the support of the democracy. He was chosen a member of the municipality of Paris (1790) and later a representative for Paris in the Legisla tive Assembly, of which he became a secretary.
In this capacity he composed the addresses of that body to foreign powers and developed a strikingly comprehensive scheme of public in struction, which after the turmoil of political strife had abated, was put into effective opera tion and still remains the basic structure of the French system of education. His program of organization had five steps: (1) pri mary schools; (2) secondary schools; (3) insti tutes; (4) lycees; (5) the Society of Arts and Sciences. After the flight of Louis XVI, Con dorcet denounced royal authority as an anti-social institution and supported the National Convention. He took his seat in this body for Aisne and directed his first efforts toward the framing of a con stitution, which was rejected. The trial of Louis XVI by the Convention was offensive to him, since he did not believe that body right in exercising judicial functions. He voted .in favor of the removal of Louis and the inflic tion of any punishment except death. His critical and independent attitude toward the new constitution and toward the oppression of the Girondists and the terroristic principles of the party of the Mountain brought down on him the suspicion of the revolutionists. He was declared an outlaw. Refuge wa.s found for him at the home of Madame Vernet, who did all in her power to prevent his escape and surrender to his enemies, even at the peril of her own life. Her words were remarkable for their lofty sympathy: "The Convention, Mon sieur, may declare you outside of the law, it cannot place you outside of humanity? While at her house he wrote (Esquisse d'un tableau historique des progres de l'esprit humain,' by which he is best known. This work is a philo sophical treatise on the history of man, tracing his evolution from a barbaric stage to the age of reason. He conceives that the chief errors in civilization have been brought about by the mismanagement by the clergy and monarchs. He outlines the future of man's progress on three lines: (1) The destruction of inequality between nations; (2) the destruction of inequal ity between classes; and (3) the unlimited im provement of individuals, mentally, morally and physically. Condorcet derives his theories from no spiritual postulates. His appeal is always to reason and to emotion aroused through rea son. He finally quitted the house of Madame Vernet, and was captured in a half-famished condition at Clamat by a member of the revo lutionary tribunal of that town. His captors threw him into prison, pending trial, and on the following morning he was found dead, either from apoplexy, exhaustion or poisoning.