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Antoine Christophe Merlin (13 September 1762 inThionville,Moselle – September 1833 inParis)[1] was a member of several legislative bodies during the era of theFrench Revolution. He is usually calledMerlin deThionville (Merlin of Thionville) to distinguish him fromPhilippe-Antoine Merlin de Douai.
He was born at Thionville, the son of aprocureur in thebailliage of Thionville. After studying theology, he began a career in law, and in 1788 was anavocat at theparlement ofMetz.[2] In 1790 he was elected municipal officer of Thionville, and was sent by the department ofMoselle to theLegislative Assembly. On 23 October 1791 he moved and carried the institution of a committee of surveillance, of which he became a member. It was he who proposed the law sequestrating the property of theémigrés, and he took an important part in theDemonstration of 20 June 1792 and in therevolution of 10 August of the same year.[3]
He was elected deputy to theNational Convention, and pressed for the execution ofLouis XVI, but a mission to the army prevented his attending the trial. He displayed great bravery in thedefence of Mainz. He took part in theThermidorian Reaction which brought about the fall ofRobespierre, and was appointed to theCommittee of General Security on 31 July 1794.[4] He sat in theCouncil of Five Hundred under theDirectory, and at theCoup of 18 Fructidor (4 September 1797) demanded the deportation of certain republican members. In 1798 he ceased to be a member of the Council of Five Hundred, and was appointed director-general of posts, being sent subsequently to organize theArmy of Italy. He retired into private life at the proclamation of theConsulate, and lived in retirement under the Consulate and theFirst French Empire.[3]
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Merlin, Antoine Christophe".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 169.
