Georges Danton

French revolutionary (1759–1794)

Georges Jacques Danton (26 October 1759 – 5 April 1794) was a politician during the French Revolution.He was a member of the city council of Paris, minister of justice and head of the Provisional Executive Council, member of the Convention, member of the National Assembly, and he was the first president of the committee of public safety. The Reign of Terror lasted from 1793 to 1794. During the Reign of Terror, Danton changed his mind: He said that continuing the Reign of Terror was a bad idea, but other people disagreed. Danton was charged with treason and executed on the guillotine.

Georges Danton
Georges-Jacques Danton. Musée Carnavalet, Paris
Member of the Committee of Public Safety
In office
6 April 1793 – 10 July 1793
Preceded byOffice created
Minister of Justice
In office
10 August 1792 – 9 October 1792
Preceded byÉtienne Dejoly
Succeeded byDominique Joseph Garat
President of the National Convention
In office
25 July 1793 – 8 August 1793
Preceded byJean Bon Saint-André
Succeeded byMarie-Jean Hérault de Séchelles
Member of the National Convention
In office
20 September 1792 – 5 April 1794
President of the Committee of Public Safety
In office
6 April 1793 – 10 July 1793
Personal details
Born(1759-10-26)26 October 1759
Arcis-sur-Aube, France
Died5 April 1794 (aged 33)
Paris, France
NationalityFrench
Political partyCordeliers Club (1790–1791)
Jacobin Club (1791–1794)
Other political
affiliations
The Mountain (1792–1794)
Spouse(s)
Antoinette Gabrielle Charpentier (m. 1787–1793)
; her death
Louise Sébastienne Gély (m. 1793–1794)
; his death
ChildrenFrançois (1788–1789)
Antoine (1790–1858)
François Georges (1792–1848)
ParentsJacques Danton and Mary Camus
RelativesAnne Madeleine Danton (1755-1802) (Sister)
Marie Nicole Cecile Danton (1757-1814) (Sister) Danton's Family
OccupationLawyer, politician
Signature

References change