BIRON, ARMAND DE GONTAULT, LORD OF, marshal of France, and a celebrated general in the sixteenth century, who signalized himself by his valour and conduct in several sieges and battles. He was made grand master of the artillery in 1569; and so much was he respected or feared on account of his valour, that nobody dared to assault him at the massacre of St Bartholomew. He was the first who declared for Henri IV.; brought a part of Normandy under his subjection; and dissuaded him from retiring to England or Rochelle. Biron was killed by a cannon-ball at the siege of Epernay, July 26, 1592, at the age of sixty-eight. He was a sort of universal scholar; and used to carry a pocket-book, in which he noted everything that appeared remarkable. This gave rise to a proverb at court, when a person happened to say anything uncommon, "You have found that in Biron's pocket-book."