Maximilien Seliastien Foy, a French soldier and orator, born at Ham, Feb. 3, 1775, died in Paris, Nov. 28, 1825. He entered the army in 1791 as second lieutenant of artillery, served successively under Dumouriez, Moreau, Mas-sena, and Bonaparte, and became colonel in 1801. His further advancement was for a time impeded by his freedom of speech and his vote against making Napoleon emperor; but for his distinguished services in the Peninsula he was made brigadier general in 1808, and general of division in 1810. At Salamanca, in 1812, he protected the retreat of the,French army, and in the following campaigns gained great applause by his skilful manoeuvres. At the battle of Orthez in 1814 he was seriously wounded. On the first restoration he was appointed inspector general of infantry. During the hundred days he was placed in command of a division, fought at Quatre-Bras, and was wounded at Waterloo. On the second restoration he retired to private life, and devoted himself to a history of the peninsular war. In 1819 he was elected to the chamber of deputies by the department of Aisne. For six years he held his seat in the legislature, where he advocated constitutional liberty with energy and boldness, and was recognized as the national orator.

His health, impaired by his former wounds, broke down under his parliamentary labors, and he died of a disease of the heart. It having been reported that the only inheritance left his children was his fame, subscription lists were opened, and within a few days the amount had reached 1,000,000 francs. The speeches of Gen. Foy were collected and published in 2 vols. 8vo (Paris, 1826). His unfinished Histoire de la guerre de la Penin-sule appeared in 1827, in 4 vols. 8vo.