Jean-Baptiste Drouet (French revolutionary)
Jean -Baptiste Drouet ( born January 8, 1763 in Sainte- Menehould ( Marne ), † April 10, 1824 in Macon ) was a French revolutionary and became known as postmaster of Sainte- Menehould.
Life
Jean -Baptiste Drouet was the son of a lumberjack. He was postmaster in 1789 in Sainte- Menehould and founded in the same year a Jacobin Club.
Drouet recognized on June 21, 1791 fleeing Louis XVI. and immediately took steps to his arrest in Varennes. In September 1792 Drouet was elected by his native Marne department in the National Convention. He approached the mountain party, voted for the death of the king and took an active part in the overthrow of the Girondins ( 31 May-2 June 1793). In September 1793, he was sent as a " representative in Mission " to the northern army. But Drouet came in October 1793 in Maubauge in Austrian captivity, he had to spend on the Spielberg fortress in Brno. In September 1795 he returned as a result of an exchange of prisoners back to France.
The popular returnees took his seat in the National Convention once again. After the dissolution of the National Convention Drouet was elected to the Council of Five Hundred. He joined the " Society of Friends of the Republic ", which held their meetings in the proximity to the Pantheon and was therefore known as " Panthéonklub ". Notwithstanding the deep disagreements with Babeuf Drouet supported the " Conspiracy of Equals ". On 10 May 1796, the arrest of the conspirators took place. The public took great interest in the arrest Drouet, as it was considered a symbol of republicanism.
Under Article 114 of the Constitution of 1795 members of the Legislative Body were not allowed to be brought before a criminal court. Responsible under the Constitution, the State Court existed only on paper. With a narrow majority so the deputies of the Council of Five Hundred Drouet repeal immunity. However, on August 17, 1796 Drouet was able to escape from jail and cross the border to Switzerland in October, 1796. Thus he was able to avoid an indictment. The Parisian public was convinced that Paul Barras known revolutionary hero did not want to put before the court and therefore allowed Drouet escape.
After the coup of the 18th Fructidor V (4 September 1797) Drouet returned again to France. He founded in the summer of 1799 the "Manege Club " as its first " regulator" he acted. From 1802 to 1814 he served as sub-prefect of Sainte- Menehould. After the return of the Bourbons Jean -Baptiste Drouet lived under false names and in secret in Macon. He died there on 10 April 1824.