COUTHON GEORGES: (1755-1794) French Politician and Lawyer. President of the National Convention 1793-94. A ...

COUTHON GEORGES: (1755-1794) French Politician and Lawyer. President of the National Convention 1793-94. A proficient speaker who often exploited his condition as a paraplegic in order to gain the Assembly`s approval of his proposals. A close associate to Robespierre and Saint-Just in the Committee of Public Safety. Couthon, responsible of the huge increase of executions, was himself guillotined alongside Robespierre. A good multiple signed document. Signed `Couthon´, in bold black ink beneath a fifteen lines annotation to the upper front page left border, Paris, 15th March 1794. The holograph lengthy annotation is in the hand of LAZARE CARNOT (1753-1823) French Physicist and politician. Known as the Organizer of Victory in the French Revolutionary Wars. Signed at the base, alongside Couthon´s signature `Carnot´. The annotation states `To be forwarded to the Minister of war, and to take in consideration the advantageous report done by General Ferrand abut citizen Dessolff who seems apt for a post. The committee instructs the Minister of War to get all the necessary information and to send to this committee his decision.´ The lengthy annotation is signed by Couthon and Carnot as members of the Committee of Public Safety. The document being a L.S., `Ferrand´, three pages, folio, Maubeuge, 5th February 1794. General Ferrand reports in detail about his aide de camp, a refugee from Holland, citizen Frederic Christophe Dessolff, about his services, his wounds, his presence at the besiege of Dunkirk. The report contains a second report signed by a representative of the People. The document bears at the conclusion a red wax seal. Small overall age wear and very small creasing, otherwise G Jean Baptiste Bouchotte (1754-1840) French Minister of war 1793-94. During his mandate the predominant role of the Committee of Public Safety did not leave much scope for the new minister, yet he rendered services in the organization of the republican armies, and chose his officers with insight, among them Kleber, Massena, Moreau and Bonaparte. Despite his incontestable honesty, he was accused by the anti-revolutionists and was tried by the tribunal, although was acquitted. He the withdrew from politics.