Georges Cadoudal, the leader of the Chouans or Breton insurgents in the French revolution, born at Kerleano, in lower Brittany, Jan. 1, 1771, guillotined in Paris, June 25, 1804. He was educated at the college of Vannes, and at first shared in the reformatory hopes which the revolution inspired; but the attempts of the assembly against the church set him in opposition to all the new ideas. With 50 of his compatriots he joined in 1793 the Vendean chiefs at Fougeres. He was soon arrested and thrown into prison, but escaped in the disguise of a sailor, and became formidable at the head of an army of Chouans. After the disaster of Quiberon, he united the remains of the royalist troops, but was unable to make progress against the republican army under Hoche. By his efforts the insurrection was renewed in 799, but without success, and he was obliged to flee to England. He was received with distinction by the English government, and by the count of Artois, who made him lieutenant general. In 1803 he returned to Paris, with several other officers, with the design of overthrowing the government. His plot was revealed, and all the efforts of the police were immediately directed to his discovery. Piche-gru, his principal associate, was betrayed by a friend, and was a few days later found dead in his cell.

Oadoudal was arrested in March, 1804, attempting to leave Paris in- a covered carriage, first, however, shooting two of the police, and shortly after was adjudged guilty of an attempt upon the life of the first consul. He showed great courage to the last, avowing himself to be the head of the conspiracy, and avoiding most carefully to compromise any of his partisans.