BABEUF, FRANÇOIS-NOËL

BABEUF, FRANÇOIS-NOËL. – Born in Saint-Quentin on 23 November 1760. In his youth he became known for his demagogical writings in the «Correspondant Picard». In Paris he published «Le Tribun du Peuple». He propagated absolute equality among all citizens, which, in order to be effective, was not to be limited to civil and political rights, but extended to the economic sphere through the abolition of private property and the creation of equal remuneration for every form of labor. To this end he organized a club, «la Società del Pantheon», in which F. Buonarroti (v.) also participated. After the association was dissolved (1795), its members decided to overthrow the government by force (Conspiracy of Equals). Betrayed, he was sentenced to death; he committed suicide on 27 May 1797.