FRANCOIS

See also:

• NICOLAS
• NICOLAS, SIR NICHOLAS HARRIS (1799–1848)

NICOLAS LEONARD

See also:

• FRANCOIS NICOLAS LEONARD BUZOT (176o-1794)

BUZOT (176o-1794)  , French revolutionist, was born at Evreux on the 1st of March 1760 . He studied law, and at the outbreak of the Revolution was an advocate in his native town . In 1789 he was elected deputy to the states-general, and there became known for his advanced opinions . He demanded the nationalization of the possessions of the clergy, and the right of all citizens to carry arms . After the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly, Buzot returned to Evreux, where he was named president of the criminal tribunal . In 1792 he was elected deputy to the Convention, and took his place among the Girondists . He demanded the formation of a national guard from the departments to defend the Convention against the populace of Paris . His proposal was carried, but never put into force; and the Parisians were extremely bitter against him and the Girondists . In the trial of Louis XVI., Buzot voted for death, but with appeal to the people and postponement of sentence . He had a decree of death passed against the emigres who did not return to France, and against anyone who should demand the re-establishment of the monarchy . Proscribed with the Girondists on the 2nd of June 1793, he succeeded in escaping, and took refuge in Normandy, where he contributed to organize a federalist insurrection against the Convention, which was speedily suppressed . Buzot was outlawed, and fled to the neighbourhood of Bordeaux, and committed suicide in the woods of St Emilion on the 18th of June 1794 .

He was an intelligent and honest

man, although he seems to have profited by the sale of the possessions of the clergy, but he had a stubborn, unyielding temperament, was incapable of making concessions, and was dominated by Madame Roland, who imparted to him her hatred of Danton and the Montagnards . See Memoires de Petion, Barbaroux, Buzot, published by C . A . Daubon (Paris, 1866) . For the history of the federalist movement in Normandy, see L . Boivin Champeaux, Notices pour servir a 1'histoire de la Revolution dans le departement de l'Eure (Evreux and Paris, 1884) .