Mirabeau

HONORÉ GABRIEL DE RIQUETTI, COMTE DE, (mēr-ah-bo',) a great French orator and statesman, B, near Nemours, 1749. When the States-General were convened, he sought to be elected as a representative of the nobles of Provence, but was rejected by them on the ground of his want of property; and left them with the threat that, like Marius, he would overthrow the aristocracy. He purchased a draper's shop, offered himself as a candidate to the Third Estate, and was enthusiastically returned both at Aix and Marseille. He chose to represent Marseille, and by his talents and admirable oratorical powers soon acquired great influence in the States-General and National A embly. His speeches undoubtedly did much towards precipitating the Revolution, though latterly he appears to have entered into a secret alliance with the court party. In Jan., 1791, he became President of the A embly, and D. in the following April. [s. 605]