About
Louis-Auguste Blanqui, born on February 8, 1805 in Puget-Théniers and died on January 1, 1881 in Paris, was a French revolutionary nicknamed 'the Imprisoned' for having spent more than 33 years of his life in prison. A major figure of the Revolution of 1848, he founded the Central Republican Society and developed 'Blanquism', a theory of seizing power by a small disciplined group. He led the insurrection of the Society of Seasons in 1839 and was elected president of the Paris Commune in absentia in 1871. Author of Eternity by the Stars (1872) and numerous political writings, he influenced revolutionary socialism.
* 1805-02-08 — † 1881-01-01
Major works
- L'Éternité par les astres (1872)essay
- Instruction pour une prise d'armes (1867)manual
- Critique sociale (1885)collection of writings
Key milestones
- 1839Leads the Society of Seasons insurrection in Paris, sentenced to death then pardoned.
- 1871Elected president of the Paris Commune in absentia, imprisoned.
- 1879Elected deputy for Bordeaux while in prison, election invalidated, then pardoned and released.
Themes
RevolutionSocialismRepublicLibertyEternity
Sources: britannica.com · gallica.bnf.fr · blanqui.kingston.ac.uk