Georges Danton

Lore & Background

Danton was born in Arcis-sur-Aube to a respectable but not wealthy lawyer. As a baby, he was attacked by a bull and later suffered smallpox, which disfigured his face. He attended school in Sézanne, then a seminary in Troyes, and later a boarding school. While at school, he defended a friend from corporal punishment and persuaded the head to ban the practice. In 1780 he settled in Paris, became a clerk under Barrister Maître Vinot, passed the Barrister examination in Reims in 1783, and in 1787 became a member of the Conseil du Roi. He married Antoinette Gabrielle Charpentier on 14 June 1787; the couple had three sons, two of whom survived infancy.

In spring 1789, Danton began giving speeches at the Palais Royal, earning the nickname 'The Thunderer.' He led the Cordeliers militia after the storming of the Bastille, though he was not present for the event itself. He opposed the Marquis de LaFayette and Jean Sylvain Bailly. In early October 1789 he was elected president of his section and deputy to the Commune. He protected Marat from legal proceedings, and in March 1790 LaFayette ordered Danton detained. Danton became president of the Club de Cordeliers on 27 April 1790. After the Champ de Mars massacre, he took refuge in London for a few weeks. In December 1791 he was elected second deputy procureur public of the Commune. On 9 August 1792 he returned from Arcis; the next day he was appointed Minister of Justice. On 2 September 1792 he delivered a speech in the assembly that many believe incited the September Massacres.

Reader's Guide

Danton's role in the onset of the Revolution has been disputed, especially during the era of the Third Republic (1870–1940); many historians describe him as 'the chief force in the overthrow of the French monarchy and the establishment of the First Republic.' He was a key figure in the early radical phase of the Revolution, serving as Minister of Justice after the fall of the monarchy and as the first president of the Committee of Public Safety. His alleged responsibility for inciting the September Massacres remains a point of controversy. His rivalry with Robespierre, his later moderation and calls to end the Terror, and his eventual execution on charges of conspiracy and venality illustrate the internal conflicts that shaped the Revolution. Danton's legacy is that of a powerful orator and revolutionary leader whose actions and fate reflect the volatile politics of the period.

Did You Know?

• As a baby, Danton was attacked by a bull and later suffered smallpox, which disfigured his face.
• While at school, he defended a friend from corporal punishment and persuaded the head to ban the practice.
• He was allegedly responsible for inciting the September Massacres, in which an estimated 1,100–1,600 people were murdered.
• Danton was the first president of the Committee of Public Safety.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"It is satisfying, for ministers of a free people, to be able to announce to them that the fatherland is going be saved." — Georges Danton "After bread, education is the first need of the people." — Georges Danton "De l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace et la Patrie sera sauvée!" — Georges Danton "Audacity, then again audacity, always audacity and the Fatherland will be saved!" — Georges Danton