MARAT, ma're, JEAN PAUL (1744-93). One of the radical leaders of the French Revolution, burn May 24, 1744. at Boudry, near Neufchatel, Switzerland. In youth he made himself master of several languages; subsequently he studied medicine at Bordeaux and at Paris, and, after traveling extensively in Europe, removed to Lon don. There he practiced medicine and published An Essay on. 1/a» (1772) and the Chains of Slavery (1776). Returning to Paris, he wrote on optical subjects and electricity, and entered the service of the Count of Artois as a veterinary surgeon in 1777. The fruits of his studies in physics appeared in a number of paradoxical pub lications on electricity and optics. Upon the outbreak of the Revolution Marat soon came to the front as one of its most extravagant, pas sionate. and demagogical leaders, and won a large following. On September 12, 1789, he established a journal, Le Publiciste Parisien, which became better known as L'.1 mi du People, and, after September 21, 1792, as Le Journal de la Repub lique. The more conservative revolutionists looked with abhorrence upon this incarnation of the worst passions of the hour, but the support of the lowest among the populace kept him in a position of intluence. Ms violence caused an order of arrest to be issued against him in 1790, but he succeeded in evading capture, thanks to the protection of the Club of the Cordeliers, of which he was a member. A bitter foe of the Gi rondists, he clamored for their destruction after the return of the King from Varennes. Danton, who had found Marat useful in the preparation of the events which led up to the storming of the Tuileries (August 10, 1792), made him a mem ber of the Commune of Paris. It was in a great
measure the influence of Marat which led to the cruelties and massacres of September, 1792, in the midst of which he was elected a member of the Convention. His journal became more fero cious and sanguinary than ever. During the King's trial he was urgent for his immediate execution, and in his journal called upon the people to slay 200,000 of the adherents of the old regime. On April 14, 1793, lie was brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal on the charge of fomenting sedition, hut was acquitted (April 24th) and returned to the Convention more powerful than ever. lie played probably the leading part in the events of May 31-June 2, which brought about the downfall of the Giron dists, who had regarded him as their most inveterate enemy. On .Tuly 13. 1793, Marat was stabbed in his own house by Charlotte Corday (q.v.). His death aroused tremendous public feeling. His 'bust was placed in the Hall of the Convention; the scene of his murder was painted by David: fetes in perpetuation of his memory were held all over France; mothers named their children after the 'martyr of the people,' and in November the Convention de creed to Marat's remains the honors of the Pan theon. His body was, however, removed in Feb ruary, 1795. Consult: Bax, Jean Paul .11 neat, the People's Friend (Boston, 1901), a rehabili tation; Burnet, Jlarat (Paris, 18(i2). a brief sketch; Cabanes, Marat lacuna'', natant(' price, le medeein, le savant, d'apres des documents »ourea fix et inedits (Paris, 1891) ; Chevremont, Jean Paul Marat (Paris, 1880).