Jacques Pierre Brissot
Jacques Pierre Brissot
Girondin journalist and deputy who championed revolutionary war
In 1791–92 he led the Legislative Assembly's push for war against Austria, which led to the declaration of war in April 1792. Sentenced on 30 October 1793, he was guillotined the next day.
A journalist and deputy in the Legislative Assembly and National Convention, Brissot also participated in antislavery activism. In 1791–92 he became the chief advocate of foreign war in the name of defending and extending the Revolution and emerged as a leading Girondin. He was arrested after the Girondins’ fall in June 1793 and later executed.
Career timeline
- 1770s–1780sTrained as a law clerk, then worked as a journalist contributing to the Mercure de France and the Courier de l'Europe.
- 1788Founded the antislavery Society of the Friends of the Blacks and served as its secretary.
- 1789Elected a member of the Paris municipality and founded the Patriote français, which he edited until 1793.
- 1791.10–1792.09Sat in the Legislative Assembly for Seine and, on the diplomatic committee, shaped much of France's foreign policy.
- 1792.09–1793.10Represented Eure-et-Loir in the National Convention; arrested in June 1793 and executed that October.