|
Dromo's Den
|
|
[Up] [Dromo's Den] Madame Roland Biography ROLAND DE LA PLATIÈRE, Marie or Manon Jeanne Philipon, Madame (1754-93). A leader of society at the time of the French Revolution. She was the daughter of Pierre Gratien Philipon, an engraver, and was born in Paris, March 17, 1754. In 1780, after a friendship extending over five years, she married Jean Marie Roland de la Platière (q.v.), and her subsequent career is closely identified with his political life. During the Revolution she became prominent in Parisian literary and political life, and her salon was frequented by Brissot, Buzot, Pétion, Robespierre, and other Revolutionary leaders. After the fall of the Girondists she was arrested June 1, 1793, and lodged in prison, where she spent her time in writing her Mémoires (4 vols., ed. by Dauban, Paris, 1864). After a summary trial before the Revolutionary Tribunal, Madame Roland was led to the guillotine and bravely met death Nov. 8, 1793. Consult: Dauban, Etude sur Madame Roland (Paris, 1864); Mathilde Blind, Madame Roland (ib., 1886); Austin Dobson, Four Frenchwomen (London, 1890); I. M. Tarbell, Madame Roland (New York, 1911); I. A. Taylor, Life of Madame Roland (ib., 1911). Madame Roland's Lettres have also been published (Paris, 1867). The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. XX (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) |