MACMAHON, niftk'ma'ON', 31ARIE EDNIE PATRICE MAURICE DE, Duke of Magenta (180S 93). A marshal of France and second President of the Third Republic. He was born at Sully, in the Department of SaOne-et-Loire, June 13. 1808, of Irish ancestry. He graduated at the military school of Saint Cyr in 1827, and was attached to the general staff of the army. He was in the campaign of Algiers in 1830 and at the siege of the citadel of -Antwerp in 1832. Returning to Africa, he made the long campaigns from the storming of Constantine in 1837 to the battle of Biskra in 1853, and for his brilliant ser vices was rapidly advanced, becoming in 1852 a general of division and commander of the Legion of Honor. In 1855 he was sent to the Crimea, and in the operations against Sebas topol led the successful assault on the 31q1a koff (September 8th). On returning to France he received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor and was made Senator. In 1857 he served against the Kabyles and in the following year was made commander-in-chief of the French forces in Algeria. In 1859. on the breaking out of the war with Austria, was put in command of the Second Corps, and on June 4th at Magenta he turned an impending defeat, clue to .Napoleen's inefficiency, into a great victory. For this achievement he was made a marshal of France and Duke of Magenta. At the battle of Solferino, June 24, 1859. he again had a great share in the victory. In September. 1864, he was once more Governor-General of Algeria. Upon the outbreak of the war with Germany he was placed at the head of the First Army Corps (July, 1S70). On August 4th his vanguard was defeated at Weissenburg, and two clays later he sustained a crushing defeat at Wiirth. He re treated to Chi).Ions and, placed at the head of a newly organized force of 120.000 men, was or dered to march to the relief of Bazaine (q.v.). In this enterprise 31aelfahon displayed little of his former resolution and dash. His slow ad vance permitted the Germans to interpose them selves between him and Bazaine, and at Sedan he found himself surrounded by the enemy. I See FaaxCo-GEItmAx WAR.) This resulted in another crushing defeat for the French (September Ist). MacMahon, who was wounded early in the en gagement, was compelled to relinquish the corn mend. On the following day the army was obliged to surrender, together with the Emperor.
In March, 1871. after the preliminaries of peace. Thiers called MaeMahon to the command of the Army of Versailles. to recover Paris from the Commune. This he accomplished toward the close of May, after a bloody struggle. After the establishment of peace MaeMahon gave his hearty support to the Thiers Government, and after Thiers's resignation in May, 1873, MaeMahon was elected President of France. He had been a
soldier outside of polities, and was perhaps the one man in France whose patriotism and purity of motive were trusted by all parties; but his election was chiefly due to the monarchical ele ments, who hoped to use him as a tool for the overthrow of the Republic. On November 19, 1873, his term of office was extended to 1SS0, this so-called 'Septennate' being aimed at delaying the permanent establishment of the Republic. Nevertheless the Republicans, under the leader ship of Thiers and Gambetta, triumphed, and in 1875 the permanent organization of a republican form of government was effected. Charged with favoring Imperialists and seeking to continue in power. MaeMahon declared that he should lend his aid to no scheme of monarchical restoration. The conflict with the Repnhlicans continuing, the Chambers were dissolved and both parties went to the country on the issue of the maintenance of the personal authority of the President, whose plat form was "defense of the Constitution and con servatism." in 1876 MaeMahon was compelled to place Jules Simon (q.v.). whose liberal policy was more in accord with the sentiment of the majority in the Chambers, at. the head of the Ministry. In the following year, however, Simon was dismissed and an appeal taken to the coun try. The action of 31aeMalion destroyed his popularity with the masses of the people, he was assailed by the press. and the preponderating state of opinion was expressed by Gambetta in his celebrated epigram, "11 faudra se soumettre ou se &mettre" ("Give in or get out"). In the new Chamber the Republicans had a majority of 120, and a deadlock ensued between the Ministry and the representatives. There were not want ing those among MacMahon's advisers who urged a coup d'e'tat and the establishment of a dictator ship, but the President was not prepared for such a step. In a. message to the Chambers (Decem ber. 1877). he acknowledged that the sentiment of the country was in favor of the Republic, pledged himself to rule in accordance with the will of the representatives, and thereafter took little active share in the Government. Be re signed the Presidency on January 30, 1879. He died at his estate of La Forest near 3Iontargis, October 17, 1893. Consult: Daudet, Le mareehal de MaeMahon (Paris, 1S83), a brief sketch; id., de la presidenee du mareehal de Mar Mahon (Paris, 1880) : Stofiel. La depeehe du 20 Aoiit 1870 the mareehal Bazaine au tnarechal de Marl/oho? (ib., 1874) ; and for an exhaustive biography, Lafarge, Histoire complete de Mae Mahon, mareehal de France, due de Magenta (ib., ISM).