Jean-Sylvain Bailly
Date of Birth
September 15, 1736
Date of Death
November 12, 1793
About
A prominent astronomer, Bailly was elected president of the National Assembly in June 1789 and presided over the session at which the deputies took the Tennis Court Oath. Chosen as the first mayor of Paris the following month, he served until November 1791. On 17 July 1791, he proclaimed martial law at the Champ de Mars, where National Guard troops commanded by Lafayette subsequently fired on the assembled crowd. His role in the events formed a central part of the case brought against him before the Revolutionary Tribunal. He was convicted and guillotined on 12 November 1793.