HomeNationsFranceNational ConventionReubell, Jean-François
Reubell, Jean-François

Jean-François Reubell

b. 6 Oct 1747, Colmar, Haut-Rhin [1]
d. 24 Nov 1807, Colmar, Haut-Rhin [2]

Title: Président de la Convention nationale (President of the National Convention)
Term: 6 Dec 1794 - 21 Dec 1794
Chronology: 6 Dec 1794, elected, session of the National Convention, salle des Machines, Palais national des Tuileries, Paris [3]
7 Dec 1794, assumed the chair, session of the National Convention, salle des Machines, Palais national des Tuileries, Paris [3]
21 Dec 1794, ceased to exercise the functions of office upon the election of a successor [4]
Names/titles: Surname also spelled: Rewbell (originating in German, the surname of Reubell was sometimes spelled as Rewbell in French)
Président de l'Assemblée nationale (President of the National Assembly) (23 Apr 1791 - 9 May 1791) [see details]; Président du Directoire exécutif de la République française (President of the Executive Directory of the French Republic) (2 Nov 1795 - 31 Jan 1796, 30 Jan 1797 - 30 Apr 1797, 26 May 1798 - 24 Aug 1798) [see details]; Membre du Directoire exécutif de la République française (Member of the Executive Directory of the French Republic) (2 Nov 1795 - 19 May 1799) [see details]
Biography:
Studied law, was admitted to the bar in Alsace; elected (2 Apr 1789) as a representative of the Third Estate by the constituencies of Colmar and Schestadt to the États-Généraux (Estates-General); deputy of the Assemblée nationale (National Assembly) (1789-1791); as an adversary of the ancien régime, attacked the royalists and was elected President of the National Assembly (23 Apr 1791 - 9 May 1791); after holding juridical offices in Haut-Rhin, was elected to Convention nationale (National Convention), representing the département of Haut-Rhin (1792-1795); following the events of 9 Thermidor, Year II (27 Jul 1794), opposed the Jacobins and contributed to closing their club in Paris; was elected member of the Comité de sûreté générale (Committee of General Security) (6 Oct 1794 - 3 Feb 1795) and the Comité de salut public (Committee of Public Safety) (5 Mar 1795 - 3 Jul 1795, 2 Aug 1795 - 4 Nov 1795); elected to the Corps législatif in 17 départements (1795), opted for Haut-Rhin; selected to sit in the Conseil des Cinq-Cents (Council of Five Hundred) (27 Oct 1795); elected (1 Nov 1795) one of the original members of the Directoire exécutif (Executive Directory); three times served as President of the Directory (2 Nov 1795 - 31 Jan 1796, 30 Jan 1797 - 30 Apr 1797, 26 May 1798 - 24 Aug 1798); supervised justice, finance and external relations; selected for replacement as a Directory member (9 May 1799), gave up his seat on 19 May 1799; elected member of the Conseil des Anciens (Council of Ancients) by three départements, Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin and Moselle (1799); after the coup of 18 Brumaire (9 Nov 1799) retired from politics and spent the rest of his life in his hometown, Colmar.
Biographical sources: "Documents biographiques sur J.-F. Reubell, membre du Directoire exécutif (1747-1807)", ed. by Raymond Guyot (Paris: Berger-Levrault, 1911) (web site); "Jean-François Reubell: French Revolutionary, Patriot, and Director (1747–1807)", by Gerlof D. Homan (The Hague: Nijhoff, 1971); "Jean-François Reubell: l'Alsacien de la Révolution française", by Jean-François Suratteau and Alain Bischoff (Mulhouse: Editions du Rhin, 1995).

[1] Reubell was born 6 Oct 1747 and baptised 8 Oct 1747 according to his baptismal record cited in "Documents biographiques sur J.-F. Reubell", op. cit., p. 37.
[2] Died on 24 Nov 1807 as confirmed by his death certificate cited in "Documents biographiques sur J.-F. Reubell", op. cit., p. 164.
[3] Moniteur universel, No. 79, 19 Frimaire, Year III (9 Dec 1794), p. 334.
[4] Moniteur universel, No. 94, 4 Nivôse, Year III (24 Dec 1794), p. 392.
Image: gravure by G. Fiesinger after a portrait by J. Guérin.