BRISSOT (Joni. Pwraa), the chief of the Brio sotise or pure republican party in France, during the early stage's of the Revolution, was born at the vil lage of Ouaroille, near Chartres, in the Orleannois, on the 14th of January 1754. His father, who was a pastry-cook, gave his son a liberal education, and Brimot became an author when he had scarcely left College. He exhibited a decided predilebtion for politics, and displayed an early zeal for republican principles. The boldness of his writings against the inequality of ranks excited the 'displeasure of the Government, and subjected hierto a prosecution and imprisonment in the Bastile. Having been restored to liberty through the influence of the Duke of Or leans, at the solicitation of Mad. de Geniis, he mar ried one of the Duchess's women, and soon after wards went to England, with secret instructions, it is said, from the Lieutenant of the police. Others as sert that be came over to London, to avail himself of the freedom of the press in conducting a periodi cal publication; the design of which was to enlighten the people of France on the subject of civil liberty. It is certain that he endeavoured to maintain himself in London by his literary talents ; but the failure of this attempt subjected him to embarrassments from which he was relieved by the liberality of a friend, and he then returned to his native country.
Having again rendered himself obnoxious to the government by an attack on the administration of the Archbishop of Sens, he escaped a second im prisonment by a journey to Holland. During a temporary residence at Mecklin, he published a pe• riodical paper, called Le Courier Belgique. In the beginning of the year 1788, he repaired to America ; but, on the approach of the revolution, he returned to Paris, resolved to take an active part in the scenes which were just preparing. He commenced his revolutionary career in 1789, by the publication of some pamphlets, and particularly of a Journal, entitled Le Patriots Francois. He belonged to the Representation des Cenewenes, which was formed in the capital a short time previous to the memorable 14th of July. On the storming of the Bastile, the keys were deposited with him. He was elected President of the Jacobin Club ; and, in consequence of his zeal and activity in the revolutionary cause he was appointiel by his colleagues a Member of the Comae des Recherches, which served as the model or all those Committees which were afterwards sue. oessively formed, under similar denominations, and with similar objects; such as the Cousites de Surveil lance, de &trete Generale, de Salut Public, &c. Of this Committee Brissot was the president ; and, while in this situation, he acquired a number of enemies. A French writer of the name of Morande published at Paris, in 1791, a periodical pamphlet, under the title of Argus, in which he assailed the character of Brissot with great bitterness, represent ing his conduct in the most odious colours, and even accusing him of robbery,—an accusation which, there is reason to believe, was utterly calumnious.
On the flight of the royal family, in 1791, Brissot, in concert with the Chevalier de .Laclos, drew up the famoUs petition of the Champ de Mars, demanding the abdication of the king, which became the signal for a dangerous insurrection, that was with difficulty quelled, by the interposition of the National Guard.
This circumstance is said to have been the occasion of his quarrel with M. de Lafayette, to whom he had previously been zealously attached. At this pe riod, the republican faction began to assume a con sistent form, and to utter their sentiments with free dom and boldness. Brissot, who had been one of its first and most zealous apostles, was returned a Member to the National Assembly, in spite of the opposition of the Court, to whom be had become extremely formidable ; and from this time he dis played an implacable enmity to the king. The Na tional Assembly, attributing to Brissot talents which he does not appear to have possessed, appointed him a Member of the Diplomatic Committee, of which he became the habitual organ ; and in this capacity he was the constant advocate of the most violent public measures, and never ceased to demand a de claration of war against all the powers of Europe. In order to attain this object, it was necessary to re move the ministers, whose dispositions were favour able to peace. Brissot, accordingly, attacked them all, but particularly M. Delessart, who was at the head of the department of foreign affairs ; and, by repeated denunciations, he at length succeeded in obtaining a decree of accusation against him. His place was supplied by Dumouriez, under whose ad ministration war was declared against the Emperor of Germany, on the 20th of April 1792. 1.).om this period, however, the political influence of Brissot began to decline. Robespierre, with whom he had previously been intimately conflicted, now declared himself his enemy, denounced hint at the Jacobin Club as a traitor to his country, and an enemy of the people, and continued to persecute him with unre lenting rancour, until he finally effected his destruc tion. Alarmed at the storm which was gathering around him, Brissot, in concert with the other lead ers of his party, attempted to form a reconciliation with the constitutional royalists ; but this attempt having proved abortive, he reverted to hie former opinions and line of conduct, and continued to de nounce to popular vengeance all those whom he knew to be attached to the king. But although his writings may naturally be supposed to have excited those dispositions among the people which rise to the atrocities of the times, he had no direct influence on the revolution of the 10th of August, which appears to have been planned and directed by Denton, and the ferocious leaders of the Orleans faction. He was chosen a Deputy to the National Convention tfor the department of the Eure, where he played only an inferior part, was continually exposed to the rancorous attacks of Robespierre. It was Britain, however, who, as the organ of th•diplomatic committee, obtained the de claration of war against England and Holland, on the 1st of February 1798. This may be considered as the last act of his political life ; for, from thence forth, he was only occupied in defending himself against his numerous enemies.