Jean-Baptiste Robert Lindet
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Jean-Baptiste Robert Lindet (May 2, 1746—February 17, 1825) was a French politician of the Revolutionary period. His brother, Robert Thomas Lindet, became a constitutional bishop and member of the National Convention.
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[edit] Early career
Born at Bernay (Eure), he worked in the town as a lawyer before the Revolution. He acted as procureur-syndic of the district of Bernay during the session of the National Constituent Assembly. Appointed deputy to the Legislative Assembly and subsequently to the Convention, he became well-known.
Initially close to the Girondists, Lindet was very hostile to King Louis XVI, provided a Rapport sur les crimes imputés à Louis Capet (December 20, 1792) – a report of the king's alleged crimes – and voted for the king's execution without appeal.
He was instrumental in the establishment of the Revolutionary Tribunal, and contributed to the downfall of the Girondists before the start of the (after a conflict over the Tribunal's radical character). His proposal for the Tribunal had passed with support from Georges Danton, despite the opposition of Pierre Victurnien Vergniaud.
[edit] Committee and Terror
He became a substitute member of the Committee of Public Safety on April 6, 1793, and soon replaced the ill Jean Antoine Debry. Very concerned by the question of food supplies, he showed his administrative talent in coping with the issue. He had meanwhile been sent to suppress revolts in the départements of Rhône, Eure, Calvados and Finistère, where he had been able to pursue a conciliatory policy during the Reign of Terror (clashes with his colleges had made them ask for his recall to Paris).
Without being formally opposed to Maximilien Robespierre, he did not support him, and he was, with Philippe Rühl, one of the only two members of the Committee who did not sign the order for the execution of Danton and his party. When asked to do so, he had replied to Louis de Saint-Just: "I am here to protect citizens, and not to murder patriots".
[edit] Thermidor and Directory
He also opposed the Thermidorian Reaction of July 1794, and defended Bertrand Barère de Vieuzac, Jacques Nicolas Billaud-Varenne, and Collot d'Herbois from the accusations made against them on March 22, 1795. Himself denounced on May 20, Lindet was defended by his brother Thomas, but only escaped condemnation by the vote of amnesty of the 4 Brumaire, year IV (October 26, 1795).
The French Directory offered Lindet the opportunity to become its spy in Basel, but he turned down the mission. After taking part in the conspiracy of Gracchus Babeuf (1796), he faced trial and was acquitted, and then was elected to the Council of Five Hundred (by Eure and Seine), but was not allowed to occupy his seat. However, he served as Minister of Finance from June 18 to November 9, 1799.
[edit] Later life
After Napoleon Bonaparte's coup d'état against the Directory, the 18 Brumaire of 1799, he refused to occupy offices of the Consulate )(and consequently of the Empire).
In 1816 he was proscribed by the Bourbon Restoration government as a regicide - avoiding a harsher penalty by not having recognized Napoleon during the Hundred Days. Lindet returned to France some time before his death in Paris.
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. In turn, it cites as references:
- Amand Montier, Robert Lindet (Paris, 1899) and Correspondance de Thomas Lindet (Paris, 1899).
- H. Turpin, Thomas Lindet (Bernay, 1886).
