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Emmanuel Barthélemy (1823–1855) was a French revolutionary and a member of secret Blanquist societies during the reign of
Louis-Phillipe Louis Philippe I (6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850), nicknamed the Citizen King, was King of the French from 1830 to 1848, the penultimate monarch of France, and the last French monarch to bear the title "King". He abdicated from his thron ...
, the citizen king of
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
in the
July Monarchy The July Monarchy (), officially the ''Kingdom of France'' (), was a liberalism, liberal constitutional monarchy in France under , starting on 9 August 1830, after the revolutionary victory of the July Revolution of 1830, and ending 26 Februar ...
from 1830 until 1848. He fled to London in 1850. He is remembered for being the winner of the last fatal
duel A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two people with matched weapons. During the 17th and 18th centuries (and earlier), duels were mostly single combats fought with swords (the rapier and later the small sword), but beginning in ...
in England, fought in 1852 with another French exile. In 1855, he was hanged in London after killing two Englishmen.


Revolutionary activity

Born in 1823, Barthélemy was from
Sceaux, Hauts-de-Seine Sceaux () is a Communes of France, commune in the Hauts-de-Seine Departments of France, department in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the Kilometre zero, centre of Paris. In 2019, Sceaux had a population of 20,004. Scea ...
, on the outskirts of
Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
.Lattek, (2006), p.131 In 1839, he was imprisoned for shooting a police officer during a coup attempt by the ''Société des saisons'', led by Louis Auguste Blanqui and Armand Barbès. Some sources state the officer was killed, others state he was only wounded. Barthélemy was released in 1847 during a general amnesty. The following year he participated in the
June Days Uprising The June Days uprising () was an uprising staged by French workers from 22 to 26 June 1848. It was in response to plans to close the National Workshops, created by the Second Republic in order to provide work and a minimal source of income f ...
in Paris, which saw working-class Parisians erecting
barricade Barricade (from the French ''barrique'' - 'barrel') is any object or structure that creates a barrier or obstacle to control, block passage or force the flow of traffic in the desired direction. Adopted as a military term, a barricade denotes ...
s and battling government troops between 23 and 26 June 1848. Barthélemy commanded the insurrectionists manning a barricade blocking ''Rue de la Grange-aux-Belles'' until overcome by forces commanded by General Lamoricière. The barricade (although from a different uprising) is described in detail in volume 5 of Victor Hugo's ''
Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' (, ) is a 19th-century French literature, French Epic (genre), epic historical fiction, historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published on 31 March 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. '' ...
''. In the aftermath of the uprising, he was arrested and convicted. He was held at the
Conciergerie The Conciergerie () () is a former courthouse and prison in Paris, France, located on the west of the Île de la Cité, below the Palais de Justice. It was originally part of the former royal palace, the Palais de la Cité, which also included ...
prison, but nevertheless managed to escape to London in 1849 or 1850.Harsin (2002), p.304


Exile in London

In London, Barthélemy became involved in producing a journal, ''Les Veilles du Peuple'', alongside Louis Auguste Blanqui,
Eugène Sue Marie-Joseph "Eugène" Sue (; 26 January 18043 August 1857) was a French novelist. He was one of several authors who popularized the genre of the serial novel in France with his very popular and widely imitated '' The Mysteries of Paris'', whi ...
, and others. He became prominent amongst those exiles who were followers of Blanqui, although he was mistrusted by some who suspected him of being a spy for the French government. Barthélemy came into contact with
Karl Marx Karl Marx (; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, political theorist, economist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. He is best-known for the 1848 pamphlet '' The Communist Manifesto'' (written with Friedrich Engels) ...
and Wilhelm Liebknecht. They met at an establishment in
Rathbone Place Rathbone Place is a street in central London that runs roughly north-west from Oxford Street to Percy Street. it is joined on its eastern side by Percy Mews, Gresse Street, and Evelyn Yard. The street is mainly occupied by retail and office pre ...
, popular with French exiles, where
fencing Fencing is a combat sport that features sword fighting. It consists of three primary disciplines: Foil (fencing), foil, épée, and Sabre (fencing), sabre (also spelled ''saber''), each with its own blade and set of rules. Most competitive fe ...
and pistol shooting were taught and practiced and where Barthélemy coached Marx in fencing. Barthélemy visited Karl and Jenny Marx at their apartment several times although Jenny Marx disliked him intensely.Gabriel (2011). p.139 Barthélemy was also an associate of the German radical August Willich. According to Wilhelm Liebknecht, Willich and Barthélemy plotted to kill Marx for being too conservative. In 1850, Willich publicly insulted Marx and challenged him to a
duel A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two people with matched weapons. During the 17th and 18th centuries (and earlier), duels were mostly single combats fought with swords (the rapier and later the small sword), but beginning in ...
, which Marx refused to fight.Porter (2008), p.30 However Willich was challenged in turn by Konrad Schramm, a young follower of Marx. The duel, with pistols, took place in Belgium, with Barthélemy acting as Willich's second. Schramm was wounded, but survived the encounter.


The last duel in England

In 1852, Barthélemy fought the last fatal duel in England. His opponent was Frédéric Constant Cournet, a former French naval officer. Cournet had also taken part in the July 1848 uprising. He had been elected to the
National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repr ...
in 1850, but in the same year had been imprisoned for helping
Eugène Edine Pottier Eugene is a common male given name that comes from the Greek εὐγενής (''eugenēs''), "noble", literally "well-born", from εὖ (''eu''), "well" and γένος (''genos''), "race, stock, kin". He fled France after leading the unsuccessful resistance in Paris to the Coup d'etat of
Napoleon III Napoleon III (Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte; 20 April 18089 January 1873) was President of France from 1848 to 1852 and then Emperor of the French from 1852 until his deposition in 1870. He was the first president, second emperor, and last ...
in 1851. Although both men were on the political left, Cournet was a follower of Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin and so was an opponent of Barthélemy and Louis Blanqui. Barthélemy challenged Cournet after taking offense at remarks Cournet made about a former girlfriend of his. The duel took place outside London, on 19 October at Priest Hill, near
Englefield Green Englefield Green is a large village in the Borough of Runnymede, Surrey, England, approximately west of central London. It is home to Runnymede Meadow, The Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial, The Savill Garden,and Royal Holloway, University of L ...
. Cournet and Barthélemy, each accompanied by two men acting as seconds, traveled by train to the meeting place. Cournet received a bullet wound, but Barthélemy was unhurt. He and his two seconds left the scene to return to London. One of Cournet's seconds fled and was never found but the other remained by his side until both men were found by chance by a local doctor. Cournet was carried to a nearby pub, the Barley Mow, and the police were alerted. By this time, Barthélemy and his two seconds were on the train to London. However, the Surrey police alerted their London colleagues by telegraph and the three were arrested when they arrived at Waterloo station. News of the encounter had been widely circulated amongst the French immigrant community, which was polarized between supporters of Cournet and Ledru-Rollin, and those who supported Barthélemy and Louis Blanc. On the day of the duel, a crowd had gathered at Waterloo station to hear the result. Reportedly, bets were placed on the outcome. Cournet died in agony some hours after being wounded and his second was arrested. The four Frenchmen were together tried for murder on 21 March 1853 at Kingston
Assizes The assizes (), or courts of assize, were periodic courts held around England and Wales until 1972, when together with the quarter sessions they were abolished by the Courts Act 1971 and replaced by a single permanent Crown Court. The assizes ex ...
. The jury found them not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter. By this time they had been in prison for five months while awaiting trial so the judge sentenced them only to a further two months in prison. Cournet is buried at St. John's Church, Egham.


Murder conviction and execution

In 1854, Barthélemy began working as an engineer for a
soda water Carbonated water is water containing dissolved carbon dioxide gas, either artificially injected under pressure, or occurring due to natural geological processes. Carbonation causes small bubbles to form, giving the water an effervescent quali ...
maker called George Moore. On the evening of 8 December 1854, he visited his employer's house at Warren Street, London, accompanied by a woman. Evidence suggested the meeting was initially cordial,Police later discovered drinks that Moore had poured for himself and his guests, indicating he was prepared to be hospitable to them. but it ended in a struggle which resulted in Moore being beaten with a stick, then shot and killed. As Barthélemy left the house, Charles Collard, an ex-policeman who kept a neighboring greengrocer's shop attempted to stop his escape but was shot and wounded. Barthélemy was apprehended by a bystander after a chase and a violent struggle. His companion escaped in the confusion; her face was concealed by a heavy veil and she was never identified or arrested. There were press claims she was a man in disguise, but this was denied by the police, who later stated their belief she escaped the country. Collard died the next day from his wound, although not before identifying Barthélemy as the man who shot him, when he was brought to his hospital bedside. Barthélemy was tried for the murder of Charles Collard on 4 January 1855 (he was not charged over the killing of George MooreAside from the unknown woman, there were no witnesses to the killing of Moore and so the charge would have been harder to prove. A number of bystanders had witnessed the shooting of Collard.). He was defended by Robert Collier QC but was found guilty. Although the jury delivered a strong recommendation for mercy, the judges
John Campbell, 1st Baron Campbell John Campbell, 1st Baron Campbell, Privy Council of the United Kingdom, PC, FRSE (15 September 1779 – 23 June 1861) was a British Liberal Party (UK), Liberal politician, lawyer and man of letters. Background and education The second son of ...
and Richard Crowder, condemned him to death. It was only after his conviction, that he gave an account of what happened. He stated he quarreled with Moore over money that Moore owed to the woman. He shot Collard accidentally while struggling with him in his attempt to escape. However it was later suggested that Barthélemy was actually attempting to blackmail Moore and the woman who accompanied him was either Moore's daughter, or a woman posing as Moore's daughter. Wilhelm Liebknecht later wrote in his work ''Karl Marx: Biographical Memoirs'', that before the meeting with Moore, Barthélemy had been planning to travel to France. He had managed to obtain an admission ticket to a
ball A ball is a round object (usually spherical, but sometimes ovoid) with several uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for s ...
due to be held at the
Tuileries Palace The Tuileries Palace (, ) was a palace in Paris which stood on the right bank of the Seine, directly in the west-front of the Louvre Palace. It was the Parisian residence of most French monarchs, from Henri IV to Napoleon III, until it was b ...
and planned to attempt the assassination of
Napoleon III Napoleon III (Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte; 20 April 18089 January 1873) was President of France from 1848 to 1852 and then Emperor of the French from 1852 until his deposition in 1870. He was the first president, second emperor, and last ...
during the event. Some figures publicly called for a reprieve of Barthélemy's death sentence, claiming that the shooting of Moore was the result of an angry quarrel and not premeditated, and that Collard was shot accidentally. However, there was no reprieve. During his final days before his execution, Barthélemy scandalized his jailors, and the priests given the task of ministering to him, by repeatedly confirming his firm
atheism Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the Existence of God, existence of Deity, deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the ...
. He said he saw no purpose in praying to God, as God would not break the rope when he was hanged. A request he made to the authorities was for a French translation of ''
Paradise Lost ''Paradise Lost'' is an Epic poetry, epic poem in blank verse by the English poet John Milton (1608–1674). The poem concerns the Bible, biblical story of the fall of man: the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan and their ex ...
'', a copy was found for him with some difficulty and he read it with great attention during his final days. Barthélemy was publicly hanged at Newgate, on the morning of Monday 22 January 1855. His final request was to hold a piece of paper in his hand while he was hanged - this was later found to be a letter from a Frenchwoman called Sophie. It was speculated she was the woman present at the killing of Moore, but nothing further was ever known about her.


Legacy

After his execution, a wax effigy of Barthélemy was exhibited at Madame Tussauds.
Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo, vicomte Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romanticism, Romantic author, poet, essayist, playwright, journalist, human rights activist and politician. His most famous works are the novels ''The Hunchbac ...
included a brief account of Barthélemy's life in his 1862 novel, ''
Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' (, ) is a 19th-century French literature, French Epic (genre), epic historical fiction, historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published on 31 March 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. '' ...
''. Pictures of his
death mask A death mask is a likeness (typically in wax or plaster cast) of a person's face after their death, usually made by taking a cast or impression from the corpse. Death masks may be mementos of the dead or be used for creation of portraits. The m ...
were included in several texts on
Phrenology Phrenology is a pseudoscience that involves the measurement of bumps on the skull to predict mental traits. It is based on the concept that the Human brain, brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific ...
. Cournet and Barthélémy's duel was fictionalized in a short, 2010 French film, ''Le Dernier Duel''. Barthélémy was played by André Refig. It won an award for the best short film at the 2011 British Independent Film Festival.


Notes


References

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Further reading

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bartelemy, Emmanuel 1823 births 1855 deaths French socialists French revolutionaries French people convicted of murder French people executed abroad French people imprisoned in the United Kingdom Executed revolutionaries Bartelemy Emmanuel People from Hauts-de-Seine People convicted of murder by England and Wales People executed for murder