SEMI MARIE ( 1761-93 ). A champion and victim of the French Revolution. He was born at Grenoble, the son of an advocate. Ile adopted his father's profession. and early attracted attention in the Parlement of Grenoble by the talents which lie displayed. A pamphlet which lie pub lished against the feudal system led to his being returned as deputy from his province to the States-General in 1789. He zealously advocated the proclamation of the Rights of Man, was vehement in opposition to the absolute veto, carried through the confiscation of Church prop erty to the use of the nation, the emancipation of the Jews, and the abolition of the religious orders, and was mainly instrumental in the lib eration of the slaves and reorganization of the colonies. Be was the leading member of the Jacobin Club for the first two years of its ex istence. As a leader of the extreme party in the earlier stages of the Revolution. he became the idol of the people. particularly after his victory over Miraheau in the question of the power of peace and war, which Mirabeau wished to leave with the King. and Barnave successfully claimed
for the National Assembly. With Potion and Batou•-Maubourg he was sent to bring the royal family back from Varennes, where they had been intercepted on their flight to the border. It may he that personal contact with royalty softened Lis prejudices; but certainly it is true that he subsequently became inclined to a more moderate course, defended the inviolability of the King's person, and resisted the assertion by the Na tional -Assembly of power to remove ministers. This conduct led to his being regarded as a renegade from the National party. lie retired to his native place on the dissolution of the Na tional Assembly, but after the 10th of August, 1792, he was impeaelied, with Lameth and Du port-Dutertre, on account of correspondence with the Court: was brought to Paris, tried before the Revolutionary tribunal, condemned, and guil lotined on the 29th of November, 1793. Consult Janin, Burnave (Paris, 1860),