CATO, MARCUS PORCIUS. named CATO TILE or CATO UTICENSIS (from the place et his death) lax. 95-46). A Roman statesman and soldier. Having lost both parents during ehildhood, he was educated in the house of his uncle, M. Living Drusus, and even in boyhood gave proofs of decision and strength of character. In B.C. 72 he served with distinction in the cam paign against Spartaens. but Nvithont, finding satisfaction in military life, though he proved himself a good soldier. From INIaccdonia, where he was military tribune in 67. he went to Per gamuK in search of the Stoic philosopher Athen talon's. whom lie brought back to his camp. and whom be indneed to proceed with him to Rome, where he spent the time partly in philosoph ical studies and partly in forensic discussions. Desirous of thoroughly qualifying himself for the questorship, he commenced to study all the titian eial questions connected with it. Immediately after his election to this position (me. 65) he introduced, in spite of violent opposition from those interested, a rigorous reform into the treasury offices. He quitted the questorship at the appointed time amid general approbation. In n.c. 63 he was elected tribune and delivered his famous speech on the Catilinarian conspiracy, in which he denounced Caesar as an aeeompliee of Catiline, and determined the sentence of the Senate. Strongly dreading the influence of un 1,ridled greatness, and not discerning that an imperial genius like that of Ca-sar was the only thing that could remedy the ills whirl' afflicted the Roman Republic, he eommeneed a career of opposition to the most powerful men in Rome —Pompeius, Caesar, and Crassum. Cato was a
noble but strait-laced theorist. who lacked the intuition into circumstances which belongs to men like Cesar and Cromwell. Ilis first oppo sition to Pompeii's was successful; but his op position to Caesar's consulate for the year 59 was of no avail. Soon after this date the Tri umvirs, in order to rid themselves of his inter ference. ordered him to proceed to Cyprus and take possession of that island for Rome. On his return (n.c. 56), he was elected pretor, position in which he fearlessly fought, against corruption. When the open breach came between Cesar and Pompeii's. Cato sided with the oppo nents of Caesar. At. the time of the battle of Pharsalia (me. 48) he was holding Dyrrhachium for Pompeins. After the disaster he sailed for Africa with his troops in order to join Pompeiva. Before his landing. the Triumvir had been mur dered. Cato was elected commander by the Pone pcians in Africa, !nit resigned the post in favor of Metellus Scipio. and undertook the defense of Utica. Ilere, when he had tidings of Cesar's decisive victory over Scipio and -Tuba at Thap sus (April 6, it.c. 46). Cato, finding that his troops were wholly intimidated, advised the Ro man senators and knights to escape from Utica and make terms with the victor, but prohibited all intercessions in his own favor. He resolved to die rather than surrender; and, after spending the night in reading Plato's PhaTto. committed suicide by stabbing himself in the breast.