About
Eugène Pottier, born in Paris in 1816, was a textile designer who became famous for his revolutionary songs. Politically engaged from an early age, he fought on the barricades in 1848 and was elected to the municipal council of the Paris Commune in 1871. After the repression, he wrote the poem 'L'Internationale' in June 1871, set to music by Pierre De Geyter in 1888, which became the anthem of the international workers' movement. Exiled to England and then the United States, he returned to France in 1880. His collection Chants révolutionnaires appeared in 1887. He died in Paris the same year.
* 1816-10-04 — † 1887-11-06
Major works
- L'Internationale (1871)poem
- Chants révolutionnaires (1887)song collection
- Elle n'est pas morte (1886)song
- Jean Misèresong
- Quand reviendra-t-elle?song
Key milestones
- 1848Fought on the barricades during the 1848 revolution.
- 1871Elected to the municipal council of the Paris Commune in March 1871.
- 1880Returned to France after the general amnesty.
Themes
revolutionclass struggleinternationalismParis Communehope
Sources: id.loc.gov · oxfordreference.com