DESMOULINS, CA.MILLE, was born at Guise, in Picardy, in 1762. His father baying obtained for him a free education at the college of Louis le Grand, in Paris, he commenced his studies there in 1776. At this public' school he met with Robespierre, when an intimacy was formed which lasted for eighteen years, and this friendship, in the sequel, twice screened him from prosecution. He finished hia course of education by the study of the law, and was admitted as an advocate to the parliament of Paris. Having embraced with ardour the new principles of liberty, and lamed from time to time several inflammatory pamphlets—' it Philosophic an People Francais,' appeared in 1788, and ' La France Libre' in 1789 —these political appeals at once brought him into notice as a bold reformer ; and they contaiu many of the germs of that socialism which has been more recently formed into a doctrine.
On the 12th of July 1789 young Desmoulins, in the garden of the pa]aIg•]loysl, harangued the people on the dismissal of Necker, and other exciting topics of the day ; described with extreme exaggeration the conduct of the court, and gave the first signal of revolt by brandishing a sword and discharging a pistol. He then invited rill the bystanders to arm themselves like him, if they did not wish to perish in a new massacre of St. Bartholomew, which was impending. In the hest of this address he tore off a small twig from one of the trees—an example which was followed by meet of the multitude. This led to the immediate adoption of the green ribbon as the national cockade, afterwards replaced by the tricolor. He then moved out of the garden, and, followed by thousands. instigated them to that pillage of arms which prepared the way to the capture of the Bastille on the 14th.
Camillo Desmouline being afflicted with a most indistinct utterance, which degenerated into a stutter when he was unusually excited, was continually driven to his pen to proclaim his opioious. Ilia next pamphlet was ' La Lanterue aux Pariaiens,' a violent attack on all those who were averse to the revolution. lie now adopted the title of 'Attorney.Oeneral to the Lantern,' in reference to the summery executions in the streets, when the mob took the law into their own bands, and hung up those they considered their opponents by the long ropes to which the lamps were suspended. This was followed by a serial publication In numbers, called ' Lee Revolutions do France et de Brabant,' which had great influence on the progress of events. On the 2nd of August 1700, in the Assemblde Conatit mute, Malouet called attention to the malielmis misrepresentations of this d:magogue, and concluded his denunciation in these words " Let him excuse himself, if he dare:' "So I do dare 1" exclaimed Dosmouline, who was in one of the galleries. This turbulent politician had been ? visitor at the Palaht-Royal, and a constant guest at the table of the Duke of Orldaria before the revolution, and had met llirabeau, Petion, Daoton, and Barnes in the.e saloons, where the first riots had been anticipated, and
discussed, and organised with funds supplied by the prince. Incapable of taking the lead himself, lie first attached himself to Miraboau, and after the death of that great tribune he became the instrument of Denton. In 1791 he married Lucile Dupleesis, an illegitimate daughter of one of the chief officers in the household of the Duke uf °demi: the two Robespiorrea, Denton, Petion, and a great number of repub licans were present at the ceremony.
Desmonline was one of the chief instigators of the insurrection of the 10th of August 1792, and appeared among the insurgents during the storming of the Tuileries. He was likewise implicated in the massacres of September, as well as Denton, but he succeeded iu saving several valuable lives. Notwithstanding his defective utterance lie became a member of the National Convention, and voted for the death of Louie XVI.
No man perhaps contributed more than Camille Desmoulins to the fall of tho Girondists; his ' Histoire des Brissotine; which profound to unmask their schemes and objects, bad as much influence ou the destruction of that party as the denunciations from the Mountain, or ultra.republie.an party. This powerful satire contained a remorseless re trospect of the aerie- life of Briefest, their leader, and in it was comprised all the worst calumnies which had been invented against Brissot for the preceding four years. After the execution of tIus Girondists, Desmoulins attacked the faction of H6bcrt in tho same manner, and never desisted until he had sent them to the guillotine. Fatigued at length of so much slaughter he wanted to atop the impetus of tho Revolution, and united his efforts with those of Denton and Lacroix, to propose a new course of moderation and indulgence. In the beginning of 1794 he published Le Vieux Cordelier,' advocating these new principles ; but his exuberant fancy and irrepressible spirit of raillery carried him beyond the limits of prudence, and io ono passage that ridicule touched the dictator. This act of rashness cost him his life. Robespierre, who felt no animosity towards those whom he did not fear, intended to overlook this fully, and proposed to burn the last number of Camille's work. " Bruler west pas rdpondre,", cried the unfortunate man. Then his school companion withdrew his shielding hand, the Committee of Public Safety ordered his arrest, he was carried to the cells of the Couciergstrie on the 30th of March, and executed with the Dautouists, April 5, 1791. During his transit iu the fatal tumbril he was in a state of extreme exciteineut, reminding the people that be had called them to arms ou the 14th of July. He was almost naked when ho reached the scaffold. His wife Lucile was executed soon after.
(Thiere ; Biographic Unirerselle; Rabies; Micholet.)