Bernard Pierre Magnan, a French marshal, born in Paris, Dec, 7, 1791, died there, May 29, 1865. He studied law, but at the age of 18 enlisted in the army, and served in Portugal and Spain from 1810 to 1813. Being transferred to the imperial guard, he served with it until the capitulation of Paris. In 1815 he was received in the royal guard, and in 1823 fought in the Spanish campaign. In 1830 he distinguished himself in Algeria, and was made commander of the legion of honor. In 1831 he was suspended for temporizing with the insurrection among the workmen of Lyons, which he was ordered to suppress. He then entered the Belgian army, with the rank of general of brigade. In 1839, when there was danger of a war with Holland, he commanded at Beverloo 25,000 men. Peace having been signed between the two countries, he returned to France. After being stationed for a short time in the Pyrenees, he obtained command of a division in the department of Le Nord, which he held for seven years, being several times called on to suppress insurrections. In 1840 he was accused of complicity in Louis Napoleon's attempt at Boulogne, but defended himself against the charge. He became lieutenant general in 1845, and on the revolution of February, 1848, he offered his services to Louis Philippe, who declined them.

Under the provisional government he commanded the third division of the army of the Alps. During the insurrection of June he rapidly advanced to the relief of Paris. He suppressed an insurrection at Lyons after a desperate conflict of six hours, and for this received the cordon of a grand officer of the legion of honor, and was promoted to command the division of Stras-burg. In July, 1849, he was elected to the legislative assembly, but took little part in the sittings, being prevented by military duty. He was appointed to the command of the army of Paris, July 15, 1851, aided Louis Napoleon in organizing the coup d'etat, and fought under Gen. Saint-Arnaud on Dec. 2, 3, and 4. He was promoted to the rank of marshal, in 1852 was made a senator, and in 1854 grand huntsman. On the outbreak of the Italian war in 1859, he took command of the army of Paris.