BLANC, JEAN JOSEPH LOUIS (1811-82). A French socialist and historian, born in Madrid, October 29, 1811. In 1820 he was placed in the college at Rhodez; in 1830 he went to Paris and became a clerk in an attorney's office for a short time, and in 1832 became private tutor at Arras. Here lie resided for two years, contribut ing largely, on literary and political subjects, to the Pm-ogres du Pas-de-Calais. He afterwards went to Paris, where he, contributed to various political papers, and where in 1839 he founded the Revue du Progre•, in which he first laid down some of his socialistic theories. In this journal, too, he brought out his famous treatise on social ism, the Organisation du travail, which in 1840 appeared in a reprint. The book obtained for its author general recognition as one of the ablest of Socialist writers, as well as wide popularity among the French ourriers, who were captivated by the brilliancy of the writing, the apparent simplicity of the scheme, and the freshness of the views advocated. The hook denounces the doctrine of individualism—i.e. individual and competitive efforts in labor—and advocates the absorption of the individual in a vast 'solidar ity,' where "each would receive according to his needs, and contribute according to his abili ties." Blanc next published (in 1841-44) a his torical work, entitled Histoire de dix ass, 1830 40, aimed with deadly effect against the Orleans dynasty. Louis Philippe afterwards declared that "it acted like a battering-ram against the bul warks of loyalty in France." It owed its suc cess partly to the exposure it gave of the scan dalous jobbery and immorality of the Crown and its advisers, partly to that passionate ardor which changed the tranquillity of history into the vehemence of a pamphlet, and its academic pomp of style. This was followed by the first volume of a Ilistoire de la revolution francaise, in which the author's aim was to describe, from his own point of view, not only the incidents .of the first Revolution, but the social history of the Eighteenth Century. In the February revo lution of 1848 Blanc played an important part. His popularity with the working classes led to his being appointed a member of the Provisional Government. He was placed by the Government
at the head of the great commission for discuss ing the problem of labor. At the same time, Marie. Minister of Public Works, began—but without Blanc's cooperation—to establish the so called national workshops (ateliers nationaux), which were to bring about the realization of the socialistic principle, but which only proved the hazardous and impracticable character of Blanc's doctrines. The national workshops led to an at tempt on the part of the Socialists to dissolve the National Assembly by force and to institute a provisional government at the Hotel de Ville, May 15, 1848. Blanc's name was, in the minds of many, connected with this movement. A pro posal was made to prosecute him, but it was negatived by the National Assembly. After the June insurrection, he was again accused and prosecuted for conspiracy, but he contrived to es cape to London, where he resided until the fall of the Empire. During his exile he devoted himself to political and historical literature. In 1S49 appeared his Appel our bonnetes yens, and des soeialistes; in 1S50. Pages (Phis toire de la revolution de terrier, and in 1851, Plus de Girondins; la republique line et indivisi ble. He acted also as correspondent for several Parisian journals, and a collection of his letters from London was published under the title Dix annees de nistoire d'Angleterre (10 vols., Paris, 1879-S1). The work which has secured him the most enduring reputation is his History of time French Revo/u t ion, in 12 volumes, written during his residence in England. It is characterized by extensive and original research, which has fre quently enabled the author to reverse the com mon verdicts on historical personages, and to explode many of the extravagant stories of the stormy period of which it treats. On the fall of the Empire in 1870, Blanc returned to France, and in 1871 he was elected to the National Assembly, in which he pursued a policy of con sistent radicalism without returning to his for mer Socialistic theories. He died at Cannes, December 6, 1882. Consult Manx, "Louis Blanc." in Portraits politiques eonlemporains, Vol. II. (Paris,