Pierre Louis Prieur

During the French Revolution he served as a deputy to the National Convention and held membership in the Committee of Public Safety.

Born in Sommesous (Marne), Prieur practised as a lawyer at Châlons-sur-Marne until 1789, when he was elected to the States-General.

Re-elected to the Convention, he was sent to Normandy, where he directed bitter reprisals against the supporters of Federalism.

He voted for the death of King Louis XVI, and as a member of the Committees of National Defence and of Public Safety he was despatched in October 1793 to Brittany, where he established the local version of the Reign of Terror.

He took no part in public affairs under the Directory, the Consulate or the Empire, and in 1816, after the Bourbon Restoration, he was banished as a regicide.