Corday
or CORDAY D'ARMANS, MARIE ANNE CHARLOTTE, a young Frenchwoman who killed the notorious revolutionist Marat. She was born in St. Saturnin, near Seez, in Normandy , in 1768, a granddaughter of the poet Corneille. Marat appeared to her the master-spirit of the atrocities perpetrated or threatened, and she determined to rid CHARLOTTE CORDAY the country of him. She left her home, and on arriving in Paris (July 12 , 1793 ), she went to Marat's house, but was not admitted. On Saturday, the 13th, she purchased a large knife, and at 7 o'clock in the evening procured admittance to Marat. She had obtained this interview by writing to him that she was from the seat of rebellion, and would "put it in his power to do France a great service."
Marat was in his bath. She, with desperate determination, plunged her knife into his bosom, and he instantly expired.
She was condemned, and guillotined, July 17, 1793.