1. Georges Couthon's father was a notary, and his mother was the daughter of a shopkeeper.
17 Facts About Georges Couthon
1. 2.
Georges Couthon, like generations of his family before him, was a member of the lower bourgeoisie.
3.
Georges Couthon's other son Hippolyte would be born in 1790.
4.
Georges Couthon was well-regarded by others as an honest well-mannered individual.
5.
Georges Couthon suffered joint problems from childhood, however it wasn't until 1782 that his condition significantly worsened, necessitating the use of a cane by 1791 and complete reliance on a wheelchair by 1793.
6.
In 1791, Georges Couthon became one of the deputies of the Legislative Assembly, representing Puy-de-Dome.
7.
In 1791, Georges Couthon traveled to Paris to fulfill his duty as a deputy in the Legislative Assembly.
8.
Georges Couthon then joined the growing Jacobin Club of Paris.
9.
Georges Couthon chose to sit on the Left at the first meeting of the Assembly but soon decided against associating himself with such radicals, as he feared they were "shocking the majority".
10.
Georges Couthon became an enthusiastic supporter of the Montagnards and often echoed their opinions.
11.
Three days after rising to that position, Georges Couthon was the first to demand the arrest of proscribed Girondists.
12.
Georges Couthon was suspicious of the unrest in Lyon upon his arrival and would not allow the Jacobins of the local administration to meet with one another for fear of an uprising.
13.
Georges Couthon had difficulty accepting the destruction of Lyon and did not even contribute much to the property destruction.
14.
Georges Couthon continued serving on the Committee of Public Safety for the next several months.
15.
Georges Couthon proposed the law without consulting the rest of the Committee of Public Safety, as both Georges Couthon and Robespierre expected that the committee would not be receptive to it.
16.
Georges Couthon proposed his resignation "rather than be suspected of taking part in measures" against his colleagues.
17.
Georges Couthon was guillotined on 10 Thermidor alongside Robespierre, but it took the executioner fifteen minutes to arrange him on the board correctly because of his paralysis.