Antoine-François Comte d', a very distinguished officer of artillery in the service of France, was born in Languedoc in 1761. His family had originally been Italian. He early joined the revolutionary party, was a lieu- tenant of artillery, and served with distinction in Italy and in Egypt under Buonaparte. In Egypt, he was an active mem- ber of the Institute of Cairo, in whose Transactions are sev- eral of his memoirs, especially on The Valley of the Natron Lakes, and on The Lake Menzaleh. He was selected by Buonaparte as one of his companions on his unexpected re- turn to Europe; and served with approbation in his subse- quent campaigns. Andreossy was appointed ambassador to London during the short peace of Amiens. When Napo- leon assumed the title of Emperor, Andreossy was advanced to be inspector-general of artillery, and to the title of Count of the empire. After various military services, he was ap- pointed ambassador to Austria, where he remained until the rupture with France in 1809; and when the fatal battle of Wagram prostrated Austria, he became the temporary governor of Vienna. He was long Napoleon's representative at Constantinople, where he acquired the good opinion of Franks and Mahometans. In 1814 he was recalled by Louis XVIII., who sent him, however, the decoration of St Louis. Andreossy then retired into private life, till the escape of his former master from Elba once more drew him forth. After the decisive battle of Waterloo he wholly withdrew from public life, and amused his retirement with preparing for publication different memoirs on scientific subjects, especially his excellent work Sur le Bosphore de Thrace, comprenant le système des eaux qui abreuvent Constantinople, Svo, 1818.

His Histoire du Canal de midi ou de Languedoc is interesting; but having claimed for his ancestor François Andreossy the principal merit of this undertaking, he was involved in a controversy with the descendants of the engineer Riguet, to whom it has been generally attributed. The decision of the best judges, however, had pronounced in favour of the latter. Andreossy died at Montauban in September 1828.