Louis-Marie of Révellière-Lépeaux

Louis-Marie of Révellière-Lépeaux also spelled Larévellière (born the August 24th 1753 with Montaigu - died the March 27th 1824 with Paris) was a French politician who carried on his activity for the period of the Révolution. It was one of the first five Directors of the Directoire.

Born in a family from landowners of the Anjou, it made its studies at Oratoriens of Angers, then at the university of this city where it acquires a license of right (1775). One moment lawyer at the Parliament of Paris, it turns over to Anjou where it is interested especially in botany.

Under the Revolution

Elected Third state of Anjou to the General states of 1789, it is appointed constituent Assembly, administrator of the department of the Maine-et-Loire, it makes party of the Club of the Jacobins, but leaves it after the escape in Varennes (June 21st 1791). Member of the national Convention (1792), it supports the Girondins and passes in clandestinity after the June 2nd 1793 (falls of Of Gironde), it gives its resignation the August 13rd 1793 and is not replaced. It returns to Convention thermidorienne the March 8th 1795 (18 ventôse year III), it contributes to the drafting of the Constitution of year III.

Under the Directory

Member of the the Council of the Five hundred, it is elected Directeur on November 1st 1795. With the Directory, Louis-Marie of Révellière-Lépeaux deals especially with the cultural and religious questions: Co-drafting of the civil constitution of the clergy, creation of the Institute of France, diffusion of the Théophilanthropie, rational religion and of the decadal worship. It prepares with Paul Barras and Jean-François Reubell the coup d'etat of the 18 fructidor year V (September 4th, 1797).

In foreign policy, he would like to destroy papacy but does not show itself favorable to the unification of Italy where it fears the domination of the Jacobins. The 30 meadow year VII (June 18th, 1799), it must resign, the Councils considering it responsible for the defeats of France.

He saw twenty-five more years, without any political activity.

References

The Memories of Révellière-Lépeaux were published by R.D. Of Angers (Paris, 3 flights., 1895).