French diplomatist, born in 1833; entered the navy in 1849 and ten years later received the decoration of the Legion of Honor. He then entered the civil service, and was in 1877 promoted to be director of the civil and financial affairs of Algeria. He took part in the defense of Paris against the Germans, and for his gallantry received the rosette of the Legion of Honor. In 1879 he proceeded to the Court of Annam as plenipotentiary. From this post he was recalled in 1885, and in 1888 was sent to Antananarivo, Madagascar, as minister plenipotentiary. There he objected to the Hovas negotiating with an English syndicate for a loan with which they wanted to cancel an indemnity due to France. He was successful, and secured the advance from French sources, to be repaid by levies on the customs of certain selected ports. He was hostile to the British. He brought affairs to a climax by preparing to leave the island upon the refusal of the Hovan government to accede to his demand claiming the right to grant the exequator to representatives of foreign powers. The Malagasy Prime Minister hastily acceded to his demands. In 1888 M. de Vilers returned to France and received the grand cross of the Legion of Honor. He returned to Madagascar, but soon resigned, and was elected deputy from Cochin China in September 1889. In 1893 he successfully negotiated the convention with Siam. In 1894 he was once more sent to Madagascar, the French government having decided to take decided action in view of the hostility of the Hovas government to France. As a result, diplomatic relations were broken off, November 10th. French troops were dispatched; the French eventually entered Antananarivo on September 30th, 1895, first placing the island under their protection, and finally annexing it.
