The New International Encyclopædia/Rouget de l'Isle, Claude Joseph

ROUGET DE L'ISLE, rōō'zhắ' de lḗl, Claude Joseph (1760-1836). A French poet and composer. He was born at Lons-le-Saunier. It was at Strassburg on the night of April 24, 1792, that Rouget de l'Isle, then a captain of engineers, wrote the immortal Marseillaise. (See article Marseillaise.) A few days later he was suspended from his rank because he refused to sanction the extreme measures of the Revolutionary Party. After a two months' exile in Alsace, he entered the army again as a volunteer under General Valance, who restored him to his former rank. During the Reign of Terror he was again proscribed, and was confined to the prison of Saint Germain-en-Laye, on being released from which after the fall of Robespierre, he composed the “Hymn of the Ninth Thermidor.” Later he served with Tallien's army, and was wounded at Quiberon, after which the Convention endeavored to atone for former injustice done him by giving him substantial promotion. In 1790 he abandoned military life and went to Paris to devote himself to poetry and music. In 1830 he was pensioned by Louis Philippe. His published works include: Chant des vengeances (1798); Chant du combat (1800); 50 Chants français (1825); and the libretti to a few operas.