Born at Grenoble, October 22, 1761; executed in Paris, November
30, 1793. One of the great promoters of that Revolution of which
he eventually became a victim.
His father was a Procurator of Parliament and his mother the daughter
of a military officer. In those days professions were hereditary, and
young Barnave was therefore destined for the Bar. In early life he
showed signs of talent and an impetuous disposition; he was sixteen
when he fought his first duel, and he published a remarkable book at
the age of twenty.
In 1783 he was chosen by the lawyers of the Grenoble Bar to pronounce
the speech before the vacation at the local Parliament. He chose
for his subject “The Divisions of Political Power in a State.” This
discourse excited much interest, not only in Dauphiny, but all over
France; the speaker was then twenty-two years of age.
His political career did not commence until he was twenty-eight, when,
having been elected Deputy to the States-General, he proceeded to
Versailles.
Barnave was, a few days after the opening of that Assembly, named a
Commissioner by the “Tiers Etat,” and he composed the first petition,
or address, that body presented to the King. During the session of the
Assembly he became more and more prominent; he was still a believer
in the monarchical system, and--under a constitutional form of
government--a strong supporter of the throne.
On October 25, 1790, Barnave was elected President of the Assembly.
A few weeks after the death of Mirabeau, April 2, 1791, the Royal
Family fled from Paris and were arrested at Varennes: Barnave was
commissioned with Pêthion to bring them back to Paris. The many hours
he thus spent in their company greatly influenced him in their favour,
and the Queen’s charm exercised an influence over him which dominated
the remainder of his short life. The question of the inviolability of
Royalty arose immediately after the King’s return, and Barnave made a
moving and eloquent speech on this subject. The discussion of the new
Constitution commenced on August 8, 1791. On the 14th the King took the
oath, and on the 30th the Assembly was dissolved.
The public career of Barnave then terminated, and his final speech was
made before a different tribunal. He returned to Grenoble in January
1792, and there wrote “The Introduction to the French Revolution.” On
August 15 of the same year the Deputy La Rivière denounced the author
of this book from the Tribune; on the 29th of the same month Barnave
was arrested. After ten months’ imprisonment at Grenoble he was removed
to Paris on November 3, 1793. He appeared on December 28 before the
Revolutionary Tribunal; two days later he perished.
Barnave addressed the crowd from the scaffold, his last words being, as
he pointed to the fatal knife, “This is the reward for all I have done
for France and for Liberty.”