Antoine Quentin Fouquier-Tinville

Antoine Quentin Fouquier-Tinville, born on June 10, 1746, was a prominent French lawyer and magistrate who played a pivotal role during the tumultuous times of the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. Known posthumously as the 'Provider of the Guillotine,' he served as the public prosecutor of the Revolutionary Tribunal in Paris from March 1793, where he was responsible for demanding the execution of numerous individuals, including notable figures such as Marie-Antoinette, Danton, and Robespierre.

Fouquier-Tinville's tenure was marked by the oversight of over two thousand executions, a grim testament to the fervor of the revolutionary period. In April 1794, a decree centralized the investigation of court records, bringing all political suspects to the Revolutionary Tribunal in Paris. However, following the events of the 10th Thermidor, his fortunes changed dramatically, leading to his arrest in early August.

During his trial, he attempted to shift the blame for the excesses of the Reign of Terror onto the Committee of Public Safety, particularly targeting Maximilien de Robespierre. He argued that he was merely executing the orders of a Convention endowed with full powers, rather than acting independently. Despite his defense, he was found guilty of abusing his authority and neglecting proper legal procedures, resulting in a death sentence.

On May 7, 1795, Fouquier-Tinville was guillotined in Paris, marking him as the last individual executed by the Revolutionary Tribunal before its dissolution. His legacy remains contentious, with historians debating his role in the Reign of Terror, suggesting that he should be viewed as part of a collective of officials rather than as the sole architect of judicial terror.