Men of the Time, eleventh edition/Billot, Jean Baptiste
BILLOT, Jean Baptiste, a French general, born at Chaumeil (Corrèze) Aug. 15, 1828, entered at the age of nineteen the military college of St. Cyr, which he left in 1849 as sub-lieutenant, and became attached to the staff. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1852; of captain in 1854; of major in 1863; of lieutenant-colonel in 1869; and of colonel in 1870. During the greater part of his brilliant military career he was stationed in Algeria, and he afterwards served in Mexico. Recalled from Africa at the time of the war against Prussia he was made a brigadier-general by the Government of the National Defence, and a few weeks later, an auxiliary general of division. Subsequently, however, he was replaced in the rank of brigadier-general by the commission for the revision of ranks. Placed at the head of the Army Corps he gained a considerable advantage over the enemy near Baune-la-Rollande, and he took part in the victory of Villers-Sexel. During the armistice General Billot was elected to the National Assembly as a representative for the department of Corrèze. He took his seat among the members of the Republican Left, and was appointed president of that group. Besides taking part in the discussion of the measures relating to Army Reform, he joined in political debates on several occasions, and he opposed with great vigour the attempts made by the Legitimists to place the Comte de Chambord on the throne of his ancestors in 1873. At the close of the year 1875 he was elected a Senator for life. In the De Freycinet Cabinet, which was constituted in Jan., 1882, General Billot held the portfolio of Minister of War. In Jan., 1883 General Billot and Admiral Jauréguiberry, the Minister of Marine, resigned their posts in consequence of differing in opinion from their colleagues as to the advisability of striking the Orleans princes off the active list of the army. The result of the double resignation was the instant collapse of the Ministry.