Born at Noisy, Burgundy, 1753; died at Magdeburg, in Prussia,
1827.
Educated in Paris at a military school he joined the army with
the grade of lieutenant in 1773. He was soon distinguished by his
scientific attainments as well as his literary talents.
When the Revolution broke out Carnot addressed many memorials to the
Assembly on the subject of financial reform. Had his proposals been
then carried out national bankruptcy might have been prevented.
He became a Deputy in 1791, and after the events of August 10, 1792,
Carnot was despatched to the Republican army of the Rhine. During
the next two years he commanded armies on the frontier, and gained
many brilliant victories. He took no part in the atrocities of the
Terror, but has been unjustly accused both by his contemporaries and
by posterity of having approved the massacres at Avignon and the
executions at Lyons. As a member of the Committee of Public Safety
his name is attached to the decrees ordering these cruel punishments,
but he was at this time fighting on the banks of the Rhine. He hated
Robespierre and Robespierre detested him, often saying, “We need Carnot
now for the war, but as soon as the war is over his head shall fall.”
Carnot became one of the five Directors, and in that capacity gave
Napoleon Bonaparte command of the army of Italy. During that campaign
the other four Directors opposed Carnot; he was stripped of his office
and even of his seat in the Institut, a body he had virtually founded,
was impeached and forced to fly for his life to Switzerland. He
remained in exile until the events of the 18th Brumaire, when he was
recalled and appointed Minister of War and Tribune. He was opposed to
the creation of a life consulate, and later on to that of an Empire.
From 1807 to 1813 he retired into private life, employing his leisure
in scientific studies and the education of his children. The disasters
of 1813 brought him out of his retreat, and he again offered his
services to the Emperor.
Napoleon appointed him Governor of Antwerp on January 24, 1814, which
place he defended with so much ability that it was still in the
possession of the French at the conclusion of the war. He again retired
into private life, but when Napoleon returned from Elba he made Carnot
Minister of the Interior. He held his appointment for less than three
months, but during that short period brought about many educational
reforms which are still in use.
After Waterloo, Carnot was a member of the Provisional Government, but
as soon as the Bourbons returned he was banished and outlawed. The
Emperor Alexander gave him a passport to Poland. He eventually fixed
his residence with his family at Magdeburg in Prussia, where he died at
the age of seventy.