Camille Desmoulins

Camille Desmoulins , 1760-94, French revolutionary and journalist. His oratory of July 12, 1789, contributed to the storming of the Bastille two days later. His pamphlets and journals, such as Révolutions de France et de Brabant (1789), were received with immense enthusiasm. Elected to the Convention (1792), he attacked the Girondists in the Histoire des Brissotins; but late in 1793, after the execution of Girondist leaders, Desmoulins, along with Georges Danton , counseled moderation, publishing the journal Le Vieux Cordelier. He was arrested with Danton and others and was executed. His beautiful wife, Lucile Duplessis, was guillotined shortly after.

Desmoulins, Camille (1760–94) French revolutionary. His pamphlets, such as Révolutions de France et de Brabant (1789), were widely read and he was responsible for provoking the mob that attacked the Bastille in 1789. Aligned with Georges Danton, he played a part in bringing down the Girondins, but was guillotined during the Revolution.

Desmoulins, Camille (1760–94) French journalist and Revolutionary. He became an advocate in the Paris PARLEMENT in 1785, and four years later, after the dismissal of NECKER, he summoned the crowd outside the Palais Royal ‘to arms’. On 14 July, the mob stormed the BASTILLE. Soon afterwards he began to publish his famous journal Les Révolutions de France et de Brabant, attacking the ANCIEN RÉGIME. He married Lucile Duplessis in 1790 and began a close association with DANTON. He voted for the execution of LOUIS XVI and campaigned against the GIRONDINS and the journalist Jacques Brissot de Warville. His support of Danton's policies of clemency angered ROBESPIERRE and led to his arrest and execution by guillotine on 5 April 1794. A week later his wife was executed.