On this day in 1794, Maximilien Robespierre is arrested after encouraging the execution of more than 17,000 “enemies of the Revolution”. He was executed the following day without trial.
He was a French lawyer and statesman, widely recognized as one of the most influential figures of the French Revolution. Robespierre fervently campaigned for the voting rights of all men. Additionally, he advocated the right to petition, the right to bear arms in self-defense, and the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade.
A radical Jacobin leader, Robespierre was elected as a deputy to the National Convention in September 1792, and in July 1793, he was appointed a member of the Committee of Public Safety. Robespierre faced growing disillusionment with other revolutionaries which led him to argue for the harsh measures of the Reign of Terror.
A deeply divisive figure during his lifetime, Robespierre’s views and policies continue to evoke controversy. His legacy has been heavily influenced by his actual and perceived participation in repression of the Revolution’s opponents, but he is notable for his progressive views for the time.
Terracotta bust of Robespierre by Deseine, 1791 (Musée de la Révolution française)
So true…
Amish win the lottery…
Fortune cookie…
Today is the birthday, in 1944, of Bobbie Gentry, US singer, songwriter, notable as one of the first female country artists to compose and produce her own material. Gentry rose to international fame with her intriguing Southern Gothic narrative ‘Ode to Billie Joe’ in 1967. The track spent four weeks at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold over three million copies all over the world. Her album Fancy brought her a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv33eaygVDQ
