BLANQUI, LOUIS AUGUSTE French revolutionary, was born on Feb. 1805, at Puget Theniers, where his father was sub-prefect. He studied both law and medicine, but early became interested in politics. He fought in the revolution of 1830, receiving a decoration for his services. He was rapidly disillusioned by the conduct of the new Govern ment of Louis Philippe, and was active in the formation and direction of secret Republican societies. He was twice im prisoned, but in 1838 organized a new "Society of the Seasons" with Armand Barbes and Martin Bernard as colleagues. Its attempt at insurrection on May 12, 1839, was a fiasco, and Blanqui, with his colleagues, was arrested and sentenced to death commuted to imprisonment for life. He was later granted a formal pardon in the belief that he was dying, but he was not able to leave the prison hospital until just before the revolution of Feb. 1848. He now found himself the chief Republican club leader, and continually pressed the Government to follow a more Socialist and Jacobin policy. As the most skilled tactician, he might have momentarily succeeded in this object had not Barbes ruined his influence by sponsoring a baseless charge of treachery. He was unable to prevent the senseless attack on the assembly on May 15, but suffered its consequences, being sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. During these years he thought out his political philosophy, becoming a Socialist and the first public advocate of the dictatorship of the proletariat (exercised through Paris) as the only means of achieving Communism. He resumed his organization of secret societies on his release in 185g, but after a second imprisonment directed operations from Belgium. By 187o he was at the head of a secret armed and drilled force of about 4,000 men in Paris; he also had many adherents who were not included in his army. On the news of the disaster of Sedan the Blanquist army formed the "hard centre" which directed the energies of the indignant crowd, so that the downfall of the Empire was secured. It was not, however, able to influence the composition of the new Government except by forc ing the inclusion of Henri Rochefort.
Blanqui, who was ardently patriotic, was infuriated by the slackness of the Government left behind in Paris by Gambetta to conduct the war. He believed, possibly truly, that it was more hostile to the "red" battalions of the National Guard than to the Prussians. On Oct. 31 187o, the battalions which followed his lead came into conflict with the orthodox regiments, and for a few hours Blanqui was at the head of a provisional Govern ment: he came, however, to an arrangement with the expelled Government and withdrew. On the signing by Thiers of the armistice of Jan. 27 187i, Blanqui retired to the department of the Lot to recover his health, broken by exertion and disappoint ment. Here he was arrested by order of Thiers on the eve (March 17) of the latter's coup d'etat manque, which led to the Commune (q.v.). Though elected to a seat on this body, which was chiefly led by his followers, he was held a close prisoner until after its defeat, when he was again sentenced to imprisonment for life. As a result of considerable agitation, culminating in his election as deputy for Bordeaux, he was released in 187g, and ended his life in peaceful propaganda. The Blanquist Party was absorbed in the French Unified Socialist Party by negotiation in 19°4-°5.