DARU, PIERRE ANTOINE NOEL BRUNO, COUNT, was born at Montpellier, January 12th,1707. He was educated in the military academy at Tournon, then directed by the fathers of the Oratory, and very soon distinguished himself by his proficiency in literary exercises. Though destined for an administrative career, he received a brevet as lieutenant of artillery when only seventeen years of age. In 1788 he became secretary to Count Perigord, and was engaged in regulating the taxes in Languedoc, but did not throw aside his literary habits. Ho translated some of the Latin classics, and wrote an epic poem in twelve books, entitled ' Washington, or the Liberty of North America.' In 1791, after having defended himself against a charge of royalism, he was appointed intendant In the army appointed to act in Brittany against the expected attack of the English. Here he became again suspected, through a ludicrous misiiuderstanding of an inter cepted letter, iu which he had said, "]sere I wait for our friends the English, who are said to be expected to arrive soou." Notwithstand ing the frivolousness of the cause, he remained a prisoner till the fall of Robespierre restored him to freedom, employing his enforced leisure in translating the Odes and Epistles of Horace, and writing a poem on his jailer, ' kretre h moo Sans-Culotte,' which was published several years afterwards.
In 1796 he resumed his official occupations, and as chef-de-divisiou houonrsbly distinguished himself by endeavouring to repress the illicit profits and the rapine so common at that time in all the departments of government. In 1799 lie was made intendant of tho army in Switzerland under Massena, and most ably and industriously fulfilled the difficult duties which devolved ou him, while he yet found time to finish Horace by translating the 'Satires,' and to write a poem on the Alps, and a' Chant du guerre,' that was set to music by order of the minister of the interior. He soon after became secretary of war, and was charged with the task of improving the military organisation. The plan was chiefly prepared by Daru, but it was signed by Berthier. Bonaparte however had a plan of his own, to which Dania was forced to give place, though he defended it with a firmness which made a favourable impression on the First Consul. In 1802 as a member of the Tribunal, where be spoke strongly and eloquently in favour of public instruction and on the monetary system, and took an active part in the disensaions generally. He also supported before the legislative body the law for a conscriptiou as a measure favourable to public liberty. In 1805 he was named a councillor of state, and general luteudant of the imperial household. Ile hesitated to accept this office. "I have passed my life," he said, "among books, and have not had time to learn the functions of a courtier." " Of courtiers," replied
Napoleon, "I have plenty around me; they will never fail. But I want a minister, at ouce enlightened, firm, and vigilant ; end it is for these qualities that I have selected you." Under the emperor, Daru was fully employed; sometimes in the administration at home, at others in foreign missions. After the battle of Jeua he acted as intendant of the army ; he was entrusted with the execution of the treaty of Tilsit, and directed the evacuation of Warsaw and of the Prussian territories; ho was ambassador to the king of Preside; be was commissioned to carry into effect the provisions of the treaty of Vienna after the battle of Wagram ; and ho opposed the Austrian marriage of Bouaparte, recommending rather that he should choose a Frenchwoman, becan•o his "throne was not founded on the same basis as that of the other sovereigns of Europe ; " an opinion that has been adopted In spirit by the present emperor of the French. Darn had DOW become the confideutial friend of Napoleon, and a number of familiar retorts are recorded of him. When the triumphal arch In the Carrousel WAR erected it was severely criticised. "Does not every body speak ill of my triumphal arch!" inquired the emperor. "Excuse me," replied Daru, "I have beard two praise it, yourself and the architect." Darn at length, on the retiremeut of the Duke of Baseano, became the prime minister of Napoleon ; his labour was immense, his position high, but he remained the same modest, honourable, and disinterested man as before. In 1812 ha strongly opposed the expedition against Russia, saying it was not men he feared, but nature. When however the war was definitively resolved on, he took the most prompt and active measures for rendering it successful. On the dirastreue issue v( the campaign he prepared for that in Saxony with the same zealous activity ; and during the succeeding events remained firm to his imperial master. lie advocated the defending of feria against the Allies; he opposed the removal of the government from Paris ; he followed the empress to Blois; and after the abdication of Napoleon at Footainbleau he retired from public life. Ile was exiled by the first royal government, and retired to Bourgos, whence he was recalled in 1819 and made a peer of France. He occasionally appeared and 'poke iu his legislative capacity, but his time was now almost entirely devoted to literature. lie died Sept. 5, 1829.
Count, Darn's literary works are numerous ; the best known in England is the' Histoire de Is Republique de Venise,' 1819, in 7 vols., which has been frequently reprinted. Among others are ' La Cleopedie, ou la 'neon° dee Reputatious Litteraire; 1800; 'Ilistoire de Bretagne,' 1826, 3 vols.; a number of speeches delivered In the legislative chambers, and many poems, some of them of considerable length.