Background
Georges Jacques Danton was born on October 26, 1759 in Arcis-sur-Aube in northeastern France. He was the son of Jacques Danton, an attorney, and his second wife, Marie-Madeleine Camus.
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(Danton est une des figures majeures de l'historiographie ...)
Danton est une des figures majeures de l'historiographie de la Révolution française, tout comme Mirabeau, avec qui il partage un prodigieux talent oratoire et un tempérament impétueux, avide de jouissances (les ennemis de la Révolution l'appellent « le Mirabeau du ruisseau »), ou comme Robespierre, à qui tout loppose, le style, le tempérament et le type de talent.
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Georges Jacques Danton was born on October 26, 1759 in Arcis-sur-Aube in northeastern France. He was the son of Jacques Danton, an attorney, and his second wife, Marie-Madeleine Camus.
After attending school in Champagne, from 1773 Danton was educated by the Oratorians at Troyes and in 1785 earned a degree in law at the University of Reims.
After obtaining his law degree, he went to Paris to practice and in 1787 bought the office of advocate in the Conseil du Roi (council with legislative and judicial functions).
After a short period of practice he was elected to the Estates-General of 1789.
He was involved in the fall of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, and was the most outspoken critic of the commune and the Marquis de Lafayette.
He spoke out against the distinction between active and passive citizens and thus became one of the first to espouse the modern conception of the legal equality of all citizens.
By 1791 he was one of the recognized leaders of the radical Cordelier Club.
At the same time he began to play the primary role in the conspiracy that led to the overthrow of the monarchy on August 10, 1792.
When the royal family fled from Paris and was captured at Varennes, he was foremost in demanding the retirement of King Louis XVI, and he was probably instrumental in organizing the attack on the Tuileries on August 9-10, 1792.
His tremendous popularity incurred the enmity of other Revolutionary leaders, notably Robespierre and Saint-Just; and when he was accused of having become wealthy through secret dealings with royalists, speculators, and other highly suspect persons, his reputation was affected.
He returned to Paris early in 1794, however, and became involved in a premature attempt to moderate the Reign of Terror which had been inaugurated by Robespierre.
Danton was denounced before the Committee of Public Safety by Saint-Just and arrested on March 31, 1794.
Saint-Just declared that disrespect for justice deserved summary conviction, and the Convention promptly condemned Danton, together with fourteen of his followers.
He was guillotined on April 4, 1794, ascending the scaffold with steadfast courage and serenity.
Danton was a leading figure in the early stages of the French Revolution, in particular as the first president of the Committee of Public Safety.
(Danton est une des figures majeures de l'historiographie ...)
Danton was a pragmatist who believed that the Revolution could only succeed if it limited its program to the possible, which meant upholding the rights of property, ending the war as quickly as possible by negotiation, and restoring order through a strong central government.
He spoke out against the distinction between active and passive citizens and thus became one of the first to espouse the modern conception of the legal equality of all citizens.
Committee of Public Safety, National Convention
He was married twice. His first wife was Antoinette Gabrielle Danton. They had three sons: François, Antoine and François Georges.
After Antoinette's death Danton married Louise Sébastienne Gély.
(m. 1793–1794)
(m. 1787–1793)
(1790–1858)
(1788–1789)
(1792–1848)
