Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre was born on 6 May 1758 in Arras, Artois. He was the eldest of four children in a family with a legal background. After his mother died in 1764, Robespierre and his brother were raised by their maternal grandparents, while his sisters were cared for by paternal aunts. He demonstrated early literacy and began his education at the Arras College at the age of eight. In 1769, he secured a scholarship to the prestigious Collège Louis-le-Grand in Paris, where he developed a strong admiration for classical rhetoric and the ideals of the Roman Republic, influenced by thinkers like Rousseau and Montesquieu.Robespierre studied law at the Sorbonne, graduating in 1780 with high honors. He briefly served as a judge but resigned due to his opposition to the death penalty. He became involved in political and literary circles, advocating for social reforms and the rights of marginalized groups. In 1789, he was elected as a deputy to the Estates-General, where he quickly gained prominence for his speeches advocating for universal male suffrage and civil rights.As a member of the radical Jacobin faction, Robespierre was elected to the National Convention in September 1792 and later appointed to the Committee of Public Safety in July 1793. He became a leading figure during the Reign of Terror, advocating for severe measures against perceived enemies of the Revolution. His influence grew, but so did opposition from other revolutionaries, culminating in his arrest on 9 Thermidor (27 July 1794) and subsequent execution without trial.Robespierre's early life was marked by personal loss and a strong educational foundation that shaped his political philosophy. His commitment to the principles of equality and civil rights drove his political career, leading him to become a key architect of the revolutionary government. His radical policies and the violence of the Reign of Terror made him a controversial figure, ultimately leading to his downfall as other revolutionaries turned against him.

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Maximilien Robespierre