DUMAS, Ol'ILLAt ME Al ATTHIEr, Count 1753 1537). A French general, politician, and mili tary historian. horn at 'Montpellier. November 23. 1753. After receiving a military education. he became, in 1776. a captain of chasseurs. and in 1750 accompanied the Comte de Rochambeau to America as aide-de-camp, and took part in the prineipal actions of the war. including the siege of Yorktown. Ile it-turned to France with the rank of major. Ile was Lafayette's aide-de camp in 1759. and sided with the Constitutional Liberal Party. In 1791 he was elected to the Constituent Assembly, and the next year was chosen president of that body. During the Reign of Terror lie absented himself from Frame, with some brief intervals. in 1797 lie was pro scribed as a monarchist, and lied to Holstein. When Bonaparte became First Consul. Dumas was recalled and appointed chief of staff to the army of Dijon. He was subsequently Councilor of State, grand officer of the Legion of Honor, and general of division. In this last capacity he was present at the capitulation of and the battle of Austerlitz (q.v.). in the latter of which he himself by high eon rage and dash ing tactics. In 180t7 lie went with Joseph Bona parte to Naples, and was made Minister of War, In 1805-09 lie served in the French army in Spain and Germany, and after the battle of Wag ram he was employed in negotiating an armistice with Austria: In 1810 he was made :t count of the Empire. ln. the Russian campaign of 1812
Diunas filled the arduous post of intendant-gen mil. and after the retreat he fought at Lfitzen and Bautzen. Subsequent to the defeat at Leip zig he was intrusted with the task of arranging for the capitulation of Dresden: but his eolith tions were not accepted by the allied powers. and he was arrested and imprisoned until the conclu sion Of peace in 1514. lIe was in favor under the first Bourbon Restoration. and held important commissions. Upon Napoleon's return from Elba Dumas was persuaded to take charge of the organization of the National Guard. When Louis X•1I1. returned, Dumas was obliged to retire on half pay. in ISIS he was restored to favor and made a member of the Council of State, and in 1525 was a Deputy in the Chamber from Paris. After the events of 1530. in which he took a prominent part, lie was made a peer, reentered the Connell of State, and became presi dent of the War Committee. Ile died Getober 16, 1S37. Besides an important military history, Pre'eis des (Tenements militaires. I795-1507 (19 vols., Paris, 1817-261, Dumas left an autobio graphical work. Sourenirs du lieutenallt-Ip'neral comte Dumas, 1770 a 1836 (Paris, 1839: English trans. Philadelphia, 1839-40).