Cavaignac, LOUIS EUGÈNE

Cavaignac, LOUIS EUGÈNE, born in Paris, 15th October 1802, was a son of General Jean Baptiste Cavaignac (1762–1829), a member of the National Convention. Educated for the military profession, he first served in the Morea, and afterwards in Africa, whither he was sent in 1832 into a kind of honourable exile, in consequence of a too free expression of opinion in favour of republican institutions. Here he won great distinction by his energy, coolness, and intrepidity, was made chef de bataillon in 1837, and rose to the rank of brigade-general in 1844. In 1848 he was appointed governor-general of Algeria, but in view of the impending revolutionary dangers, was called to Paris and assumed the office of Minister of War. He was appointed military dictator in order to suppress the formidable insurrection of June, which he quelled only after a most obstinate contest continued from the 23d to the 26th June. It is estimated that a greater number of Frenchmen fell in the struggle than in the bloodiest battles of the first Empire. Cavaignac's clemency to the vanquished was equal to his generalship. His task being done, he resigned his power into the hands of the National Assembly, which appointed him President of the Council. As a candidate for the presidency of the republic, when Louis Napoleon was elected, he received nearly a million and a half of votes out of 7,327,345. On the coup d'état of December 1851, Cavaignac was arrested, but released after a short detention; and though he consistently refused to give in his adhesion to the Empire, he was permitted to reside in France without molestation. He died, 28th October 1857, at his country house near Tours. Cavaignac was an able soldier, a zealous republican, and in every way an honourable man. See his Life by Deschamps (2 vols. Paris, 1870).