Death Warrant of Lavoisier

What it is

This is a copy of the death warrant issued by the Republic of France in 1794, recording the judgement of the Revolutionary Tribunal that condemned Antoine Lavoisier to execution along with other members of the Ferme Générale, the tax-collecting body he had belonged to.

Why it matters

Lavoisier is remembered today as a founder of modern chemistry, but this document shows the other side of his life: his role as a wealthy tax official under the Ancien Régime. During the Terror, this connection to the old financial system, rather than his scientific work, led to his execution by guillotine. It is a stark reminder that revolutionary justice could sweep up people for reasons unrelated to their other achievements, and that Lavoisier's wealth and privilege, visible in works like his portrait, had real consequences.

Look closer

• Why might the Revolutionary Tribunal have targeted former tax officials like Lavoisier?
• What does this document leave out about Lavoisier's scientific achievements?
• Why is it important to look at official documents like this alongside portraits or scientific writings when studying a historical figure?