Jean-Lambert Tallien | |
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Tallien as deputy to the National Convention, 1792.
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40th President of the National Convention | |
In office 21 March 1794 – 5 April 1794 |
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Preceded by | Philippe Rühl |
Succeeded by | Jean-Pierre-André Amar |
Member of the National Convention | |
In office 20 September 1792 – 2 November 1795 |
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Constituency | Seine-et-Oise |
Member of the Council of Five Hundred | |
In office 2 November 1795 – 10 November 1799 |
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Constituency | Seine-et-Oise |
Personal details | |
Born |
Paris, Kingdom of France |
23 January 1767
Died | 16 November 1820 Paris, Kingdom of France |
(aged 53)
Nationality | Italian French |
Political party |
Jacobin Club (1789–1794) Independent (1794–1799) |
Other political affiliations |
Montagnards (1792–1794) Thermidorians (1794–1799) |
Spouse(s) | Thérésa Tallien (m. 1792–1802); divorced |
Occupation | Politician, journalist, revolutionary |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Signature |
Jean-Lambert Tallien (23 January 1767 – 16 November 1820) was a French political figure of the revolutionary period.
He was the son of the maître d'hôtel of the Marquis de Bercy, and was born in Paris. The family of Tallien was originally from Italy, and moved to the Northern France, near Paris (Italien was the French for "Italian"). The marquis, noticing his ability, had him educated, and got him a place as a lawyer's clerk. Supportive of the Revolution, he gave up his desk to enter a printer's office, and by 1791 was overseer of the printing department of the Comte de Provence.
During his employment, he conceived the idea of the journal-affiche, and after the arrest of the king at Varennes in June 1791 he placarded a large printed sheet on all the walls of Paris twice a week, under the title of the Ami des Citoyens, journal fraternel.
This enterprise had its expenses paid by the Jacobin Club, and made Tallien well known to the revolutionary leaders. He became even more present in politics after organizing, together with Jean-Marie Collot d'Herbois, the great Fête de la Liberté on 15 April 1792, in honour of the released soldiers of Chateau-Vieux.
On 8 July 1792, he was the spokesman of a deputation of the section of the Place Royale which demanded from the Legislative Assembly the reinstatement of the Mayor, Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve, and the Procureur, Louis Pierre Manuel. Tallien was one of the most active popular leaders in the storming of the Tuileries Palace on 10 August; on that day he was appointed secretary to the insurrectional Commune of Paris. He committed himself to his new mission, and habitually appeared at the bar of the Assembly on behalf of the Commune. He was a direct participant in the September Massacres of 1792, and, with the help of Georges Danton, would eventually be elected a member of the National Convention. He announced the September Massacres in terms of apology and praise, and he sent off the famous circular of 3 September to the French provinces, recommending them to take similar action. At the same time, he had several people imprisoned in order to save them from the violence of the mob, and protected several suspects himself.