French revolutionist, was a successful advocate before the French Revolution. He was the son of Pierre Camus, a lawyer in the Parlement of Paris. In 1789 he was elected by the Third Estate of Paris to the Estates-General, and attracted attention by his speeches against social inequalities. He was one of the National Assembly's earliest presidents (28 October - 11 November 1789), and he was the most prolific speaker: no one addressed the Assembly more times than did he (over 600 times); d'André is second at 497, le Chapelier third at 447. Camus was so frequently called upon to speak mostly because of his expertise in canon law.
