1-152-938 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Paul Jean Francois Nicolas, Comte de Barras (1755-1829), French revolutionary. A soldier, Barras advanced in revolutionary France to become one of the five Directors who controlled the government of France under the Directory established in October 1795. His political career ended in 1799 when the coup d'etat of 18 Brumaire, largely engineered by Napoleon Bonaparte, ended the government of the Directory and replaced it with that of the Consulate.