Antoine Christophe Merlin

Antoine Christophe Merlin, called Merlin de Thionville (* September 13, 1762 in Thionville, † September 14, 1833 in Paris) was an eminent figure of the French Revolution.

Merlin was at the outbreak of the Revolution, whose principles he paid homage with enthusiasm, Huissier de justice in his native town, and was to this Parliament lawyer to Metz and 1791 deputy of the department of Moselle in the Legislative Assembly, where he stayed for the extreme left.

He applied for the confiscation of the goods emigrants and the deportation of the non-juring priests ( oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy ). On the events of August 10 1792, he had a prominent part. From the city of Paris elected to the National Convention, he joined the party of Danton, was also here for the extreme left and voted for the death of the king.

As a commissioner with the army of General Custine he proved in 1793 in Mainz, when it was besieged by the Prussians, a rare bravery. On 9 Thermidor 1794, he supported the attacks against the party Maximilien de Robespierre, and was at the fall of the reign of terror of the ten commissioners Convention.

To the President of the Convention chosen, he pursued now as the Jacobins as before the Feuillants. Then he went as adjutant of General Jean -Charles Pichegru the Army of the Rhine and took here the fortress of Luxembourg on behalf of the Republic of possession, but proved against the captured exiles large conservation.

Upon introduction of the Constitution of the Year III elected to the Council of Five Hundred, he kept to the moderate party. After his resignation as an MP, he was administrator of the General Post Office. Because he voted against the lifelong Consulate of Napoleon I., he had to resign his post and retired to an estate in Picardy. He died on 14 September 1833 in Paris.