LORES ADOLPHE THIERS, French historian and statesman, was born April 16th, 1797, at Marseille. His father was a working blacksmith. He was placed in the Imperial Lyceum of Marseille, where he achieved many victories over his young competitors before the year 1815, when he was sent to Aix to pursue the study of law. Here he formed his friendship with M. Mignet, the historian, in company with whom, as soon as he had taken his degree as advocate, he set off to Paris to seek his fortune. He lived for a time in obscurity and indigence, but obtaining an introduction to Lafitte, he was enrolled among the contributors to the Constitutionel, then the leading Liberal publication. In the crowded saloons of Lafitte, Cassimir Perier, the Comte de Flahault, the Baron Louis (the great financier of the era), and of M. de Talleyrand, he enjoyed discussion with actors in the grand revolutionary drama, which was eminently useful to him in the great undertaking which he had long meditated. L' Histoire de la Revolution Francaise at once placed the briefless advocate and young political writer in the highest ranks of literary celebrity. Leaving his garret in the alley of Montesquieu, he emerged into fame, and became one of the most prominent men of France in the two paramount fields of literature and politics. From 1832, when the Soult cabinet was constructed, he continued a minister, with one short interval, until 1836. In February, 1836, he was nominated President of the Council and Foreign Minister, by Louis Philippe. He only held this office until August, 1836, when he passed into Opposition. In 1840, he was again called by the king to the premiership. His Histoire du Consulat et de l'Empire, begun 1845, and completed in 1860, is one of the greatest historical works of the age. At the revolution of 1848, he accepted the Republic. Perceiving that Louis Napoleon aimed at imperialism, Thiers opposed him in the Chambers. After the coup d'etat of 1851, he was arrested and imprisoned, and politely conducted to the fiontier. After a year and a half he was permitted to return, Louis Napoleon having established himself in power. He resumed his historical labors. In 1863 he took the oath of allegiance to the empire. He was elected to the Chamber, and constantly spoke and acted against the emperor's ministry. He disapproved of the Crimean and Italian wars, and of the Mexican expedition, and vehemently opposed the war with Prussia, declaring in a powerful speech that Prussia had given no cause for hostilities. In October, 1870, he visited London, Vienna, and St. Petersburg, and vainly sought aid for France against Prussia. On the convening of a National Assembly in February, 1871, Thiers was, by an almost unanimous vote, chosen Executive Chief of the Republic of France, and his government was officially recognized by the English, Austrian and Italian ambassadors. Yielding to dire necessity, terms of peace were accepted by him, the demands of Prussia being acceded to, and preliminaries signed on the 27th day of February. Thiers was chosen by a very large majority "President of the French Republic," an office which he held till May, 1873, when MacMahon was appointed in his stead. He died September 3rd, 1877.