Armand, a French journalist, and one of the chief authors of the republican constitution of 1848, was born in the south of France in 1802. His career as a political writer began at Paris in 1827, and he soon became distinguished as a defender of the practical school of philosophy as opposed to the eclecticism of Cousin. In 1830 he established the newspaper La Tribune, which during several years was the acknowledged organ of the ultra-Liberals. For some fierce invectives in this periodical against the government Marrast was at different times prosecuted; and for a pamphlet entitled Vingt Jours de Secret he was compelled to flee to England. In 1836, when Carrel was slain in a duel, Marrast succeeded him as chief editor of Le National, and speedily converted that organ of moderate and philosophical Republicanism into a vehicle of vigorous but scurrilous tirade. By his bold and persistent attacks upon the government and the court, he was a chief instrument in accelerating the Revolution of 1848. Accordingly, he acted a prominent part in the new government, became president of the National Assembly, and was re-elected to the same office at the end of several successive months. As rapid, however, in his fall as in his rise, Marrast was soon forced to flee from the vengeance of the Red Republicans, and living in retirement, he was almost forgotten, when his death, in March 1852, introduced his name once more to the public.