Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
and died on October 11, 1901, in
Nouméa
Nouméa () is the capital and largest city of the French special collectivity of New Caledonia and is also the largest francophone city in Oceania. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, a ...
, was a
laundress
A washerwoman or laundress is a woman who takes in laundry. Both terms are now old-fashioned; equivalent work nowadays is done by a laundry worker in large commercial premises, or a laundrette (laundromat) attendant.
Description
As evidenc ...
Daughter of Edmet Gorget and Éléonore Cochon, Victorine Gorget was a Parisian laundress. She was 1.65 m tall, has black eyes and a brown complexion. She married Edmond Nicolas Lefèvre, a
woodcarver
Wood carving is a form of woodworking by means of a cutting tool (knife) in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation ...
, on August 22, 1872, and moved with him to 5 rue de Chartres in the
18th arrondissement
The 18th arrondissement of Paris (''XVIIIe arrondissement'') is one of the 20 Arrondissements of Paris, arrondissements of Paris, the capital city of France. In spoken French, this arrondissement is referred to as ''dix-huitième''.
The arrondis ...
in eastern Paris.. She later married for the second time at the age of 32 Jean-Baptiste Puissant, on December 2, 1875, and for the third time, at the age of 48, Louis Félix Roffidal, on July 1, 1891, in
Papeete
Papeete (Tahitian language, Tahitian: ''Papeete'', pronounced ) is the capital city of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of the France, French Republic in the Pacific Ocean. The Communes of France, commune of Papeete is located on the isl ...
.
During the Paris Commune, when she was 28 years old, Victorine Lefèvre was a frequent visitor to the Saint-Michel des Batignolles club in the
17th arrondissement
The 17th arrondissement of Paris (''XVIIe arrondissement'') is one of the 20 arrondissements of the capital city of France. In spoken French, it is referred to as ''le dix-septième'' (; "the seventeenth").
The arrondissement, known as Batignoll ...
. Considered a leader, she would have proclaimed "that the ladies must take up arms to guard the ramparts, while the men go out against the troops of Versailles". Victorine Gorget was also very active in the l'
Union des femmes pour la défense de Paris et les soins aux blessés
''Union des femmes pour la défense de Paris et les soins aux blessés'' ( en, Women's Union to Defend Paris and Care for the Wounded) was a women's group during the 1871 Paris Commune. The union organized working women, ensured a market and fa ...
.
Denounced by neighbors, she was sentenced to deportation on March 30, 1872, by the Fourth Council of War for "inciting civil war and provoking, by speeches, shouts or threats in public places, to commit crimes and to gather insurgents. As a female individual, the question of intimacy and morality are intertwined in her interrogation while she is accused of political facts. Thus, in her interrogation, the Council of War reports the following exchange: "the story of the crucifix that you would have worn on your backside saying: 'Since I am making your acquaintance, you are going to kiss my ass'. - This is not true. I always persist in denying it as I have already done it ".
Condemned to the penal colony, with the 7th convoy of the Paris Commune, she passed through
Brest
Brest may refer to:
Places
*Brest, Belarus
**Brest Region
**Brest Airport
**Brest Fortress
*Brest, Kyustendil Province, Bulgaria
*Břest, Czech Republic
*Brest, France
**Arrondissement of Brest
**Brest Bretagne Airport
** Château de Brest
*Brest, ...
on August 5, 1873, after having left the central prison of Auberive before embarking, on August 10, 1873, under the number 10, on the sailing frigate La Virginie from the island of Aix for a deportation to
New Caledonia
)
, anthem = ""
, image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg
, map_alt = Location of New Caledonia
, map_caption = Location of New Caledonia
, mapsize = 290px
, subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...
. The crossing at sea lasted four months:
Louise Michel
Louise Michel (; 29 May 1830 – 9 January 1905) was a teacher and important figure in the Paris Commune. Following her penal transportation to New Caledonia she embraced anarchism. When returning to France she emerged as an important French a ...
Henri Rousseau
Henri Julien Félix Rousseau (; 21 May 1844 – 2 September 1910) at the
Like most of the so-called simple deportees, Victorine Gorget was allowed to reside in
Nouméa
Nouméa () is the capital and largest city of the French special collectivity of New Caledonia and is also the largest francophone city in Oceania. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, a ...
. There she worked as a laundress before becoming the manager of the baths. In 1875, she found herself imprisoned for eighteen months on the Ducos peninsula alongside the Communard women Marie Spinay and Jeanne Bertranine.. She was accused of living illegitimately with Jean-Baptiste Joseph Puissant, a soldier born in 1840, who was sentenced to five years of hard labor for forging the signature of his captain.
On January 4, 1878, Victorine Gorget obtained the remission of her sentence and the obligation of residence was lifted on March 11, 1879.