15 Facts About Georges Couthon

Georges Couthon played an important role in the development of the Law of 22 Prairial, which was responsible for a sharp increase in the number of executions of accused counter-revolutionaries.

Georges Couthon's father was a notary, and his mother was the daughter of a shopkeeper.

Georges Couthon, like generations of his family before him, was a member of the lower bourgeoisie.

Georges Couthon was well-regarded by others as an honest well-mannered individual.

In 1791, Georges Couthon became one of the deputies of the Legislative Assembly, representing Puy-de-Dome.

In 1791, Georges Couthon traveled to Paris to fulfill his duty as a deputy in the Legislative Assembly.

Georges Couthon then joined the growing Jacobin Club of Paris.

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".

Georges Couthon became an enthusiastic supporter of the Montagnards and often echoed their opinions.

Three days after rising to that position, Georges Couthon was the first to demand the arrest of proscribed Girondists.

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.

Georges Couthon had difficulty accepting the destruction of Lyon and did not even contribute much to the property destruction.

Georges Couthon contributed to the prosecution of the Hebertists and continued serving on the Committee of Public Safety for the next several months.

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.

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.