Barras, Paul François, Vicomte de

Barras, Paul François, Vicomte de (1755-1829), French revolutionary, born in the Var department, into a noble family. In 1792 he was elected to the National Convention, the revolutionary body that abolished the French monarchy; acting for the Convention, he arrested the radical French leader Maximilien de Robespierre in July 1794. Made commander in chief of the troops of the Convention in 1795, Barras called on Napoleon Bonaparte to keep order in Paris. Barras was made one of the five members of the Directory in the same year. Napoleon, suspecting him of monarchist intrigue, banished him to Rome in 1799. After the restoration of the monarchy Barras returned to Paris, where he died.