Biographical facts about Danton

GEORGES JACQUES DANTON (October 26, 1759 – April 5, 1794), was a famous leader of the French Revolution. Danton was born in Arcissur-Aube, of middle-class parents. At the beginning of the revolution he was a successful lawyer in Paris, and a leader of the Cordeliers Club, one of the militant factions of the ex­treme Republicans. This group favored ridding France of the monarchy. They achieved their purpose on Aug. 10, 1792, when they forced the legislative assembly to imprison Louis XVI. Danton, who is called "the Man of August l0th" because of his leadership in the movement to imprison Louis XVI, became minister of justice.
Danton and his associates, Camille Desmoulins, Maximilien Robespierre, and Jean Paul Marat, established a national convention of revolutionary leaders and a revolutionary tribunal. These two bodies ruled France for the next three years. Almost anyone could be brought before the jury of the tribunal. Their victims were not only traitors, but also persons suspected of being too mild in their political views. Danton and Desmoulins soon recognized the need for stamping out this violence. They felt that the convention should relax its policy and prepare a workable republican constitution for an orderly government. Danton suggested halting the violence.
Robespierre was jealous of Danton's success. He ordered that Danton be arrested for disloyalty and brought before the tribunal. Danton's fiery and eloquent denunciation alarmed the members of the tri­bunal, who feared the loss of their power. Danton was condemned and executed. His execution climaxed the Reign of Terror.