Maximilien de Robespierre

Robert Clark (The Literary Encyclopedia)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.5.2.04: French Writing and Culture: Eighteenth-Century and the Enlightenment, 1700-1800.
Vol. editors: Edward Forman (University of Bristol), Jenny Mander (University of Cambridge), Síofra Pierse (University College Dublin), Tim Unwin (University of Bristol), David Williams (University of Sheffield)

Dates

Born 6 May 1758
Died 28 Jul 1794
Activity 1778-1794

Places

Born in France
Active in France

Activities

Primary

Politician
Statesman

Resources

Maximilien de Robespierre was a leading radical politician during the most difficult and violent phase of the French revolution. Sympathetic to the interests of the working class, and keen to protect the Revolution from absolutist subversion, he played a central part in the administration of “The Terror” (July 1793-July 1794) before himself being sent to the guillotine.

The child of provincial lawyer in Arras, Robespierre was marked by the early death of his mother and abandonment by a father who left him with his brother to be raised by grandparents. Intelligent and disciplined, Robespierre received a grant to study at the prestigious Collège Louis-le-grand in Paris and went on to receive a degree in law. He returned to …

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836 words

Citation: Clark, Robert. "Maximilien de Robespierre". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 25 January 2006 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=11682, accessed 23 November 2024.]

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