Charles Philippe Ronsin

Charles Philippe Ronsin was born in 1751.  He enlisted in the French army and managed to rise up to the rank of Corporal.  

He was elected to the position of Captain in Parisian National Guard in 1789.  He became increasingly well known as he published a series of patriotic plays and soon became a member of the Cordeliers Club.   He became associated with Jacques-René Hébert and was seen as a leading sans-culottes.

He was sent on various missions by Convention for example he denounced Dumouriez when he went to Belgium to observe the general’s conduct.  He then rose to assistant in the war ministry before he assisted in the war against royalists in the Vendée.  It was here that people began to condemn his excessive brutality.  This did not stop him being appointed to assist Fouché who bloodily put down a revolt in Lyon.

By the end of 1793 some such as Couthon were calling for his arrest.  He was placed under arrest and placed in prison before being released.  When he was released he called for a general rising against the Convention.  This did not occur and he was once against arrested and put on trial alongside Hébert.  He was found guilty and executed on the 24th March 1794.