The New Student's Reference Work/Tallien, Jean Lambert

Tallien (tä-lyăn′), Jean Lambert, a French revolutionist, was born at Paris in 1769. He first came to the front in 1792 as editor of a Jacobin newspaper, which gave him great influence. As secretary of the commune he helped on the September massacres. He was a supporter of Marat, and was eager for the death of Louis XVI and the Girondists. In 1793 he was sent to Bordeaux to root out this party, where he gained lasting infamy by his reckless cruelty. In 1794 he came back to Paris to become president of the Convention; and, to save himself from the attacks of Robespierre, he organized the destruction of the Terrorists, though he had himself perhaps been more guilty than they. Tallien now became one of the most influential men, but his past crimes could not be forgiven, and in 1798 he was forced to leave the council of 500. He died on Nov. 16, 1820.