Pierre Joseph Duhem
| Pierre Joseph Duhem | |
|---|---|
| Born |
8 July 1758 Lille, France |
| Died | 24 March 1807 (aged 48) Mainz, (Mont-Tonnerre French department) now Germany |
| Nationality |
 France
|
| Education | Medicine |
| Known for | Committee of General Security member |
| Home town | Lille, France |
| Title | National Convention member |
| Political party | Montagnard |
| Board member of | Panthéon Club |
Pierre Joseph Duhem (8 July 1758 – 24 March 1807) was a French physician and politician.
Son of a weaver, he was born in Lille. He was study supervisor in the Collège d'Anchin (), in Douai, then he obtained his medical doctorate and practised medicine in Quesnoy-sur-Deûle and in the Douai Hospital.
Strong supporter and advocate of revolutionary ideas, he became one of the founder members of the Constitution Friends Society (11 November 1789), elected justice of the peace in Lille in 1790, then elected North member of parliament (MP) to Legislative Assembly in September 1791 where he sat on the left. The 17 November 1791, he gained attention in Assembly by giving a violent speech against non-juring priests. He wanted the confinement of War Ministry Narbonne-Lara but was disapproved by other MP. Throughout that period, Duhem carried out active propaganda for republican ideas in the streets, the Assembly and the sections. He played a role in the insurrection of the 10 August and, during the night from 10 to 11 August, he presented the decrees suspending the King and calling for a National Convention. The 20 August 1792, he required to publish a decree concerning General Dillon who "lost the confidence of the nation". The 21 August, he was elected secretary of the National Assembly, then sent on a mission to the Army of the North where he reported that Maubeuge was threatened by foreign armies.
In September 1792, he was elected again to the National Convention as North MP. He joined the Mountain and was sent again on a mission to the Army of the North. The 26 December 1792, he requested a removal measure against the Interior Minister Roland accused of destroying some of the evidence within the armoire de fer (iron chest) found in the Tuileries Palace, containing documents that indicated Louis XVI's relations with corrupt politicians. He demanded a roll-call vote for the trial of Louis XVI. He asked for death sentence without suspensions against the King. The day of the execution, he joined the Committee of General Security where he sat until June. He took advantage of his position to be resolutely opposed to Girondists and led an armed raid on the printing establishment of Antoine Joseph Gorsas on March 9, 1793. From 4 April to 20 July 1793, he was sent again on a mission to the North Army and he denounced the Girondist Charles Zachée Varlet () but he supported suspected Generals as Custine and La Marlière against Jacobins as General Jean-Baptiste de Lavalette whom he dismissed. But Robespierre and Jean Bon Saint-André took the side of Lavalette and Duhem became himself somewhat suspect. The 12 December 1793, Robespierre delivered a speech supporting dismissed Mountain Generals. Duhem was excluded from the club 4 days later. To save his head, he was never heard again until 9-Thermidor.
...
Wikipedia