Joseph-Ignace Guillotin
Overview
Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin (ɡijɔtɛ̃) (28 May 1738, Saintes
– 26 March 1814, Paris) was a French physician
who proposed on 10 October 1789 the use of a device to carry out death penalties in France
. While he did not invent the guillotine
, and in fact opposed the death penalty, his name became an eponym
for it. The actual inventor of the prototype was Antoine Louis
.
Guillotin composed an essay to obtain the degree of master of arts
from the University of Bordeaux
.
Saintes
Saintes is a French commune located in Poitou-Charentes, in the southwestern Charente-Maritime department of which it is a sub-prefecture. Its inhabitants are called Saintaises and Saintais....
– 26 March 1814, Paris) was a French physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who proposed on 10 October 1789 the use of a device to carry out death penalties in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. While he did not invent the guillotine
Guillotine
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out :executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which an angled blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the head from the body...
, and in fact opposed the death penalty, his name became an eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
for it. The actual inventor of the prototype was Antoine Louis
Antoine Louis
Antoine Louis was a French surgeon and physiologist who was born in Metz.He was originally trained in medicine by his father, a surgeon-major at a local military hospital. As a young man he moved to Paris, where he served as gagnant-maîtrise at the Salpêtrière...
.
Guillotin composed an essay to obtain the degree of master of arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from the University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux is an association of higher education institutions in and around Bordeaux, France. Its current incarnation was established 21 March 2007. The group is the largest system of higher education schools in southwestern France. It is part of the Academy of Bordeaux.There are seven...
.
Unanswered Questions
