Paul Francois Jean Nicolas Barras, count de, a French revolutionist, horn at Fox-Amphoux, Provence, June 30, 1755, died at Chaillot, near Paris, Jan. 29, 182!). He served in the East Indies, in the army, returned to France with the rank of captain, wasted his fortune, and, though he had no political opinions, threw himself among the revolutionists, probably in the hope of retrieving his affairs. He took part in the attacks on the Bastile and the Tui-leries, and was elected by the department of Var a member of the convention, where he voted for the death of the king, with neither delay nor appeal to the people. In October, 1793, being sent to the south of France with Freron, he succeeded in forcing the anti-revolutionists to submission. He went alone to arrest Gen. Brunet, who was charged with having traitorously delivered Toulon into the hands of the English. Returning to that city, he hurried the siege; and when Toulon was taken, he visited the traitors with the most severe punishment. He was one of the most active in the revolution of the 9th Thermidor, and headed the troops who took Robespierre in the hotel de ville.

Next day, having resigned his command, he was appointed secretary to the convention, and in November a member of the committee of general safety, when he proved himself at once an ardent persecutor, of the montagnards and the emigrants. At the same time he proposed the celebration of the anniversary of the death of Louis XVI. On Feb. 4, 1795, he was elected president of the convention. On the 12th Germinal, when the mob presented themselves in arms, demand-in- "bread and the constitution of '93," he caused martial law to be proclaimed, and conducted himself with energy. On the 1st Prairial he again beat down the attack of the suburban people. On the 13th Vende-miaire he was intrusted with the command of the troops to protect the assembly, and selected as his assistanl Gen. Bonaparte, whose vigorous measures very promptly quelled the royalist insurrection. Fleeted one of the five members of the directory, he used his office as the means of gaming immense wealth ana indulging his taste for debauchery. On the 18th Fructidor, 1798, he executed the coup d'etat, which changed the complexion of the two councils, and banished the minority of the directory.

In the internal revolution which occurred in the directory on the 30th Prairial, 1799, he succeeded in maintaining his position, and thenceforth reigned nearly paramount. A series of intrigues and plots then commenced, which ended only when the directory was overthrown by Bonaparte on the 18th Bru-maire. (See 1)ieectoey.) Suspected of corresponding with the royalists and strictly watched, he was compelled at last to fly to Brussels, where he lived in great luxury. After the establishment of the empire he was permitted to return to Marseilles. Convicted of participation in Mallet's conspiracy, he was exiled to Rome. He declined serving Murat in 1814, and started for France, but was arrested at Turin, and led to Montpellier, where he conspired openly in the interest of the Bourbons. After the restoration he lived near Paris in almost princely style. His memoirs were published in 1873.