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Blanc (JEAN JOSEPH LOUIS a French)

JEAN JOSEPH LOUIS, a French socialist and historian, was born in Madrid, where his father was Inspector-General of Finance under King Joseph, Oct. 29, 1811. After finishing his school education he went to study in Paris. In 1839 he founded the "Revue du Progrès," in which he first brought out his chief work on socialism, the "Organization of Industry." The book denounces the I rinciple of competitive industry and proposes the establishment of social workshops, composed of workmen of good character, and subsidized by the State. In 1841-1844, Blanc published a historical work, entitled "History of Ten Years (1830-1840)," which produced a deadly effect on the Orleans dynasty.

This was followed by the first volume of a "History of the French Revolution."

On the breaking out of the Revolution of February, 1848, Blanc was appointed a member of the Provisional government, at the head of the great commission for discussing the problem of labor. At the same time, Marie, Minister of Public Works, began to establish the so-called national workshops, which, however, were in no sense an attempt to carry out the views of Blanc. Blanc was accused, without reason, of a share in the disturbances of the summer of 1848, and escaped to London, where he spent many years. On the fall of the empire, Blanc returned to France, and was elected to the National Assembly in 1871. After 1876 he was member of the Chamber of Deputies. In both these bodies he voted and acted with the Extreme Left. He died at Cannes, Dec. 6, 1882.