Giuseppe Marco Fieschi

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Giuseppe Marco Fieschi (December 13, 1790 – February 19, 1836) was the chief conspirator in the attempt on the life of King Louis-Philippe of France in July 1835.

Fieschi was a native of Murato in Corsica. He served under Murat, then returned to Corsica, where he was condemned to ten years imprisonment and perpetual surveillance by the police for theft and forgery. After a period of vagabondage he eluded the police and obtained a small post in Paris by means of forged papers; but losing it on account of his suspicious manner of living, he resolved to revenge himself on society. He took lodgings on the Boulevard du Temple, and there, with two members of the Société des Droits de l'Homme, Morey and Pépin by name, contrived an "infernal machine" (in French, machine infernale), consisting of twenty gun barrels, to be fired simultaneously.

On July 28, 1835, as Louis-Philippe was passing along the boulevard du Temple, which connected Place de la République to the Bastille, accompanied by his three sons and a numerous staff, the machine was exploded at the height of n°50 Boulevard du Temple (a commemorative plaque has since been engraved there). A ball grazed the king's forehead, and his horse, with those of the duke of Nemours and of the prince de Joinville, was shot; Marshal Mortier was killed, with seventeen other persons, and many were wounded; but the king and the princes escaped as if by miracle.

Fieschi himself was severely wounded by the discharge of his machine, and vainly attempted to escape. The attentions of the most skilful physicians were lavished upon him, and his life was saved for the stroke of justice. On his trial he named his accomplices, displayed much bravado, and expected or pretended to expect ultimate pardon. He was condemned to death, and was guillotined on February 19, 1836. Morey and Pépin were also executed, another accomplice was sentenced to twenty years imprisonment and one was acquitted. No less than seven plots against the life of Louis Philippe had been discovered by the police within the year, and apologists were not wanting in the revolutionary press for the crime of Fieschi.