Denis Angnste Affre, archbishop of Paris, born at St. Rome-de-Tarn, Sept. 27, 1793, died in Paris, June 27, 1848. He was educated in the seminary of St. Sulpice, and was made teacher of philosophy in that of Nantes before he had attained the age required for the priesthood. After his ordination he was attached successively to the seminary of St. Sulpice and to the foundling hospital, and subsequently as grand vicar assisted the bishops of Lugon and Amiens. In 1834 he was attached to the diocese of Paris as canon and honorary vicar general. In 1839 he was appointed coadjutor to the bishop of Strasburg, but never took possession of this office; for the archbishop's see of Paris having become vacant, he was appointed to it, and consecrated Aug. 6, 1840. In this office he distinguished himself by zeal for ecclesiastical education, and for the alleviation of poverty and misfortune. While the insurrection of June, 1848, was raging in the streets of Paris, he determined to make a personal attempt to stop bloodshed. On the 25th he called upon Gen. Cavaignac, and, although warned by him of the great danger of his undertaking, repaired to the faubourg St. Antoine, the stronghold of the insurgents.

On his appearance between the two hostile parties at the place de la Bastille, the firing was suspended, and he calmly and steadily proceeded toward the barricades without any protection except the gold cross on his breast and a green branch carried before him, in token of peace, by a young attendant. He was admitted behind the barricades, and had just begun to address the insurgents, when the report of a musket was immediately followed by a renewal of hostilities, and in the confusion the archbishop fell, shot by some unknown hand, and was transported to the hospital of the Quinze-Vingts. He expired two days later, a martyr of charity, as was proclaimed by the national assembly. He was the author of several religions and educational works.