Adolphe Mel, a French general, born at Mu-et, Haute-Garonne, Oct. 4, 1802, died in Paris, Aug. 13, 1869. He entered the polytechnic school of Paris in 1821, and the military academy of Metz in 1823, and became a second lieutenant of engineers. In 1836-'7 he distinguished himself in the expedition against Con-stantine in Algeria, and was promoted, Oct. 25, 1837, to command the engineers in that province. On his return to France he gained distinction as military engineer, and was appointed colonel in 1846. In 1849 he took part in the expedition to Rome. He became general of division in 1853, commanded in 1854 the siege operations against Bomarsund, and in 1855 was appointed adjutant of Napoleon III., and was employed in the siege of Sebastopol. In 1859 he took a prominent part in the Italian campaign, and decided by the artillery under his command the victory of Solferino (June 24), after which he was made a marshal of France. In 1857 he was appointed a senator, and in 1867 minister of war, which office he held, with the exception of a few weeks, until his death.