Georges Couthon, a French revolutionist, born near Clermont in 1756, died by the guillotine, July 28, 1794. He was a lawyer previous to the revolution, and was noted for amiability and probity, giving gratuitous advice to the poor and devoting himself to charitable works. At the opening of the revolution his popularity was enhanced by his manifestation of liberal opinions, and he was elected a municipal officer in Clermont and afterward president of the tribunal of that city. In 1791, although he had nearly lost the use of his limbs from paralysis brought on by exposure, he was elected a deputy to the legislative assembly. He became at once one of the most revolutionary of the members, allied himself with the Jacobins, and advocated the strongest measures against the king. The following year he was elected to the convention, and voted for the death of the king. He became a strong partisan of Robespierre, and formed with him and St. Just the triumvirate which for a short time controlled the government. He moved the resolution which decreed the arrest of the Girondists, and acted as commissioner in Lyons, where his name is connected with many atrocities, though according to some he endeavored to restrain the excesses of his party on that occasion.

On his return to Paris he actively seconded Robespierre in all his projects, and presented to the convention the law of the 22d Prairial, which deprived the accused brought before the revolutionary tribunal of the aid of counsel and of the right to produce witnesses in their defence. He was involved in the fall of Robespierre on the 9th Thermidor, and shared his fate.