Henri-Baptiste Grégoire

Originated from a Lorraine peasant family; was ordained priest (6 Jan 1776) and made curé of Emberménil, Meurthe (15 Apr 1782); published a number of works praised by the French academic institutions; elected (27 Mar 1789) as a representative of the clergy of Nancy to the États-Généraux (Estates-General); joined the sessions of the Third Estate as a deputy of the Assemblée nationale (National Assembly) (1789-1791) and took an oath in the Tennis Court (20 Jun 1789); elected President of the National Assembly (18 Jan 1791 - 29 Jan 1791); advocated abolishing Negro slavery and granting citizenship to Jews; objected some provisions of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, but agreed to swear the oath of allegiance; was elected (13 Feb 1791) and proclaimed (17 Feb 1791) constitutional bishop in the départements of Sarthe and Loir-et-Cher, opted for the latter; appointed administrator of Loir-et-Cher (from 6 Sep 1791); elected to the Convention nationale (National Convention) (1792-1795); put forward the motion for abolition of kingship (21 Sep 1792); elected a member of the Comité de sûreté générale (Committee of General Security) (17 Oct 1792 - 9 Jan 1793); proposed that King Louis XVI be brought to trial, but demanded the abolition of death penalty; was elected President of the National Convention (15 Nov 1792 - 29 Nov 1792); became an active member of the committee of public instruction; was elected to the Corps législatif and sat in the Conseil des Cinq-Cents (Council of the Five Hundred) (1795-1798) as a representative of the département of Seine; disapproved the coup of 18 Brumaire, Year VIII (9 Nov 1799 - 10 Nov 1799); was elected to the Corps législatif (25 Dec 1799) and the Sénat conservateur (26 Dec 1801); resigned bishopric (8 Oct 1801); served as President of the Sénat; opposed many actions of Napoléon I and called for deposition of the emperor (1814); was elected to the Chambre des députés (Chamber of Deputies) (12 Sep 1819), but the election was annulated under the pressure of royalists (6 Dec 1819). Biography source: [3]