Louis Bénigne François Berthier de Sauvigny

Who is Louis Bénigne François Berthier de Sauvigny?

Louis Bénigne François Berthier de Sauvigny was a French public servant, particularly an intendant of Paris from 13 September 1776 onwards. By the time the French Revolution broke out in July 1789, he was already unpopular through, as part of his duties, assuring the army's provisions. This, compounding on circulating rumours that accused him of contribution to the low levels of food supplies in Paris at the time, which was said to be aimed at starving the Third Estate. On the 22 July 1789 he was therefore taken by rioters at Compiegne, brought to Paris and hanged from a lamp post that same day in front of the Hôtel de Ville together with Joseph Foullon de Doué, his father-in-law and member of the Parlement of Paris.