Danton
GEORGES JACQUES, a French revolutionist; born in Arcis-sur- After the im- Aube, Oct. 26, 1759. He was an advocate ouis XVI, at Varennes, by profession, but became one of the most active among the demagogues of the Revolutionary period. prisonment of Louis he took the lead in the meeting of Champde-Mars, which paved the way to the dethronement of the king. Danton's de-Mars, which paved the way to the dethronement of the king. Danton's and self-confidence fitted him to dominate the revolutionists. He became one of the executive council and took active measures to defend Paris, threatened by the Prussians under the Duke of Brunswick. He was afterward a member of the Convention and of the Committee of DANUBE Public Safety, and was a chief promoter of all the sanguinary acts of that terrible period. At length a struggle for supremacy took place between him and Robespierre, in which the latter was suc- DANTON cessful, when Danton was sent to the guillotine, April 5, 1794.