TALLIEN, tagyfix', JEAN LAMBERT (1769 1820). A French revolutionary leader, born in Paris. He was educated by his father's employer, the Marquis de Bercy. He early imbibed the spirit of the Revolution, was attached to the Moniteur, and started a journal, L'Anii des Citoyens, in imitation of Marat's Anti du Peup/e. He acquired great influence with the people and became a leader in extreme and sanguinary meas ures. On August 10, 1792, he was made secre tary to the Revolutionary Commune of Paris, was later chosen to the Convention and there became the apologist of Marat, voted for the death of Louis XVI., and was eager for the destruction of the Girondists (q.v.). Toward the close of 1793 he was sent to Bordeaux as the representative of the Committee of Public Safety. A passion which he there conceived for Madame de Fontenay, whom he married December 26, 1794, made him amenable to her influence, which was exerted on the side of clemency. On March 22, 1794, he was chosen president of the Conven tion. Robespierre, who hated him, and felt that be could not he trusted, denounced him in the Convention. Tallien recognized his danger and dexterously rallied the remnants of the Danton ists, Hebertists, and other factions against the Government of Robespierre, Saint Just, and Con Ginn, and brought about the events of the 9th Thermidor (July 27, 1794), which caused the fall of the triumvirate. Tallien became head
of the Committee of Public Safety, lent his aid in suppressing the Revolutionary Tribunal and the Jacobin Club, and drew up the accusa tions against Carrier, Le Bon, and others of the Terrorists. From 1795 to 1798 he was a member of the Council of Five Hundred, where, however, his influence rapidly diminished. He accompanied Bonaparte to Egypt. editing the official journal, Decade Egypticnne, and, when returning to France, was captured by an English cruiser, and taken to England, where lie was lionized by the Whigs (1801). Soon af ter he returned to France, and was sent in 1805 as consul to Alicante. lie died in Paris, Novem ber 16, 1820. Under the Directory Madame Tal lien's salon was one of the most brilliant in Paris. While Tallien was absent in Egypt, she was di vorced from him and married in 1805 Count de Caraman, afterwards Prince de Chimay. See CIIIMAY, JEANNE MARIE 1ONACE THERESE DE CABARRUS, PRINCESS DE.