The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-06-12
PRESIDENT McMAHoN.
A sketch of his Life and Career,


Marie Edme Patrice Maurice Nc
Mahon, who has 80 recently attained
the position of President of France,
was born In that country in 1903. His
ancestors were Irish, his family hav-
ing left Ireland after the downfall OF
the Stuarts. His father was a peer OF
France. His whole career has been
hat OF u soldier. lie first distinguish
ed himself in 1880, in the war with
AAgieEs, in which country he remained
uhtiI 1850. In 1852 he was made gen.
eIal Ot u division, and in the siege OF
SebastOpoI he was commander OF the
division which took the MaIakotf by
I assault on; the Sth OF SepJeLIber,
1856. La the Italian campaign OF
1855, he commanded the corps d'armee
and for his daring and 1neritorious
services III the battle of Magenta, re-
Isedived the title of Duke of Magenta,
aud was made Marshall of France
/ Ll the battle of SOlferino, he perform
cd heroic part aud contributed much
I'd the victory.
He REPRESENTED France at the coro-
nation of William HI. of Prussia, in
November, 1861, was nominated to
the command of the Third corps
diagmee October Ia, 1852, and was
Nominated Governor General of ALI
! geria, by decree sSeptemb ber /, 1864. In
this capacity he inaugurated a, new
system, the tendency of which was to
create an Arab Kingdom. It proved,
-nbweVer, q complete failure. The
French and other European cOlORists
became so dissatisfied that, in 1868.
large number of them left for Brazil,
while thousands of the natives per-
ished from hunger. A great outcrys
was raised in France against the Mar
shall whose policy was alsO severely
censured by Mgr. de Lsvigerie, Bishop
OF Algiers. On the breaking out of
the war with Prussia, Marshal McMa-
hbil was intfusted with the command
of the First army corps, whose head
.Inarters were al Strasburg. On An-a
gust q. 1870, the Crown Prince OF
Prussia attacked the united army
corps of Generals Mcmahon, Failly
and CAffrObert, drawn up in position
at Woerth. McNahoh had under him
$1,000 men in all aud occupied a.
strong defensive position on the
slopes of the Vosges, bat the French
line was turned by the Prussians at
two points, and their left and center
broken, notW Outstanding y desperate
charge of cavalry which was ordered
by Mcmahon retired on the Following
day to Sayerne, next to Toul (l3th), 4
Rheims (21st) and Rethel {22d). On
the 30th his forces were again defeated
by the T'russians, being driven back
from Beaumont beyond the Meuse,
near Monzon. lie was chief in com
mand at the battle of Sedan (Sept. y
but received & severe would IN the
thigh at the commencement of the
engagement, whereupon the command
devolved upon General Wimpffen,
who signed the capitulation. McMa-
hon was made prisoner of war, and
conveyea into Germany. Having re-
covered from his wound, he left Wies-
baden for France, March Ii, 1871, and
was nominated,in the folio wfngmonth
COMMANDMENTS Chief of the army at
Versailles. He successfully conduct
ed the siege of Paris against the Com.
muhe, and ably assisted NJ. TIMERS in
reorganizing the army. In December
1871, he was requested by the Parisian
Press Union to become \ candidate TO
represent Paris in the National AS
selnbly, but he refused to accept the
domination, " t E
1t is evident from his manly but
mournfliI speech accepting the trust
now consigned to him that he does so
with a heavy heart. No French crown
whether composed of the royal dia-
dems or OF o simple Republican
wreath, has rested easy on the wear
er's head. Ii ThiePs tell before the
blind eapplee of the Assembly, may il
not seek second victim!