HUMBERT, JOSEPH AMABLE, a French general, was born at Rouvray, near Remiremont, November 25, 1767. Deprived of both his parents in childhood, he was indebted for his imperfect education to an aunt, from whose house lie ran away at sixteen. From this time be led a vagrant life for nearly nine years; at one time a servant to a tradesman at Nancy ; then a commoa workman at Lyon, and for several years a hawker of rabbit-skins in his own neighbourhood. In this situation the Revolution found him, when he enlisted as a volun teer, in June 1792. Being one of the finest men in the French army, extremely brave, ready witted, and presumptuous, his natural gifts suited the times, so that he rose very rapidly, and within six months became a lieutenant, a captain, and a colonel. In April 1793 he was made a general of brigade; and during the invasion of Troves, In August 1791, he gave proofs of reckless daring as a soldier. Bet his spirit of insubordination, at this period, drew upon him a severe rebuke from his commander, General Bournonville, in consequence of which lie was removed to the army of the west, operating against the insur gents of La Veadde. Here he distinguished himself on several occasions under General cloche, whose confidence he acquired; but having been employed to superintend the slaughter of the Royalist prisoners at Quiberon, whom he bad induced to capitulate on the promise of honourable treatment, he bore for several years the stigma, which belonged rather to Tillie° and the governmeuL Nearly a thousand men were shot in this massacre, among whom were M. de Sombreuil, sod several royalist officers of rank. In 1796 General Hoche, after great efforts to stimulate the Directory, was sent with an army of 9000 men to invade Ireland : he took with him General Humbert, who Was made a general of division. But this expedition came:to nothing, a violent storm having scattered the several ships of the squadron, and obliged Hoche to regain the French coast. At length, about the
middle of August 1793, General Humbert was led to undertake a landing in Ireland, with a single division, consisting of 1500 troops. With this small force he landed at Kilhis, August 22, and took possession of the town. Three daya after he marched from Killala to meet General Lake, who had with him a force euperior in numbers, but consisting chiefly of yeomanry and militia. The forces encountered near Castleber, and Lake was defeated. Humbert now took possession of Castlebar, which became his head-quarters. He and his lieutenant, Sarrazen, made the greatest efforts to induce the Irish to join his standard, in which he was assisted by one or two rebels of note belonging to the country. But the recent disastrous battle of Vinegar Hill (May 23, 1793); the weakness of his army, reduced to less than a thousand men ; and his want of money even to pay his own troops, proved unfavourable to his views, and rendered his object abortive. In this forlorn condition he was met by the advanced guard of Lord Cornwallis and beaten; and soon after was obliged to capitulate, Sep tember 8, 1793. He was exchanged in March 1799, and returned to France.
In 1802 he was ordered to join the expedition of General Leclerc, destined against the blacks of St. Domingo, whom he repeatedly defeated. After the death of Leclerc) ho returned to France in the same ship with the widow of his leader, the beautiful Pauline, who Is said to have promised him her hand when the term of her mourn ing bad arrived. This presumption proved the ruin of Humbert ; the indignant First Consul at once ordered him to leave Paris, and would have proceeded to harsher measures, had not the unfortunate general made his escape to America in 1804. lie never afterwards appeared in his native country, but led for many years a new course of adventure among the Spanish settlements. Humbert died at New Orleans, February 27, 1823.