Maximilien Robespierre

1758–1794 · French (Arras/Paris) · French Revolution

Known for: Architect of the Reign of Terror—revolutionary who guillotined thousands before being guillotined himself

Robespierre was a provincial lawyer who became the most powerful and feared man in revolutionary France. He was a disciple of Rousseau who believed in popular sovereignty, the rights of man, and—eventually—the necessity of killing thousands of people to protect the Revolution.

As leader of the Committee of Public Safety (1793-1794), he presided over the Reign of Terror—approximately 17,000 official executions and perhaps 40,000 total deaths. He sent former allies (Danton, Desmoulins), royalists, and moderate revolutionaries to the guillotine with equal conviction.

In July 1794 (Thermidor), his colleagues turned on him—they feared they'd be next. He was arrested, tried to shoot himself (only succeeded in shattering his jaw), and was guillotined the next day. The Revolution ate its children.

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