Jacques Hébert (French politician)

Jacques René Hébert (15 November 1757 – 24 March 1794) was a French journalist and radical revolutionary during the French Revolution. He was a prominent figure in the Cordeliers Club and the leader of the Hébertists, a faction known for their extreme anti-clericalism, revolutionary fervor, and advocacy for the sans-culottes.

Hébert arrived in Paris around 1780 and initially struggled to find stable employment. He eventually gained notoriety as a writer of popular, often vulgar, pamphlets and eventually became a successful journalist. His most famous work was Le Père Duchesne, a newspaper written in the coarse language of the common people, in which he advocated radical policies and fiercely attacked perceived enemies of the revolution, including aristocrats, priests, and initially, even moderate revolutionaries like Lafayette and later, the Girondins.

He played a significant role in the Reign of Terror, inciting violence and contributing to the radicalization of the revolution. As a member of the Paris Commune, he agitated for the execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. He was also instrumental in the dechristianization movement, which aimed to replace traditional religion with a secular "Cult of Reason."

Hébert's extreme policies and his attacks on other revolutionary leaders, including Robespierre, eventually led to his downfall. Accused of conspiracy and counter-revolutionary activities, he was arrested in March 1794, along with several of his followers. He was tried before the Revolutionary Tribunal and, along with his associates, was found guilty and executed by guillotine on 24 March 1794. His execution marked a turning point in the Reign of Terror and helped pave the way for the Thermidorian Reaction.