Gustave Bouvet
Encyclopedia
Gustave Charles Bouvet was a French
anarchist
who unsuccessfully tried to assassinate Alexandre Millerand
, the President of France
.
Bouvet was raised by priests in Antwerp, and returned at 14 years of age to Paris
to live with his parents. He served as the secretary for the Fédération Anarchiste and was founder of the Journal des Jeunesses Communistes, of which he became secretary and director. In 1921, he was sentenced to a year in prison for publishing anarchist
propaganda
. In April 1922, Bouvet was released from prison and took up residence on the Rue des Panoyaux.
On 14 July, 1922, Bouvet made an attempt to assassinate President Alexandre Millerand. Millerand and other dignitaries were traveling in a procession of three carriages along the Champs-Élysées
after returning from a Bastille Day
military review. When the procession reached the corner of the Avenue Marigny at about 11:05, Bouvet drew a revolver from his pocket and fired two shots at the second car, which he mistakenly believed the President was riding in. Both shots went wide, apparently due to a bystander who grabbed Bouvet's arm before he was able to aim. Bouvet dropped the revolver in the ensuing struggle and attempted to run. A police cyclist who was accompanying the procession hurled his bicycle at Bouvet which caused him to fall. The crowd immediately attacked Bouvet and threatened to lynch
him. The police, however, were able to pull Bouvet from the crowd and place him under arrest.
Bouvet was found to be carrying another revolver and 25 cartridges in his pockets. Upon interrogation, he declared that he intended to shoot the President "in order to make an example." He later retracted this, however, saying that he did not wish to kill anyone and that he wanted only to "make a demonstration that would attract attention to the condition of the proletariat
."
Bouvet was 23 years old at the time of the attempted assassination.
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...
anarchist
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
who unsuccessfully tried to assassinate Alexandre Millerand
Alexandre Millerand
Alexandre Millerand was a French socialist politician. He was President of France from 23 September 1920 to 11 June 1924 and Prime Minister of France 20 January to 23 September 1920...
, the President of France
President of the French Republic
The President of the French Republic colloquially referred to in English as the President of France, is France's elected Head of State....
.
Bouvet was raised by priests in Antwerp, and returned at 14 years of age to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to live with his parents. He served as the secretary for the Fédération Anarchiste and was founder of the Journal des Jeunesses Communistes, of which he became secretary and director. In 1921, he was sentenced to a year in prison for publishing anarchist
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
. In April 1922, Bouvet was released from prison and took up residence on the Rue des Panoyaux.
On 14 July, 1922, Bouvet made an attempt to assassinate President Alexandre Millerand. Millerand and other dignitaries were traveling in a procession of three carriages along the Champs-Élysées
Champs-Élysées
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a prestigious avenue in Paris, France. With its cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets and one of the most expensive strip of real estate in the world. The name is...
after returning from a Bastille Day
Bastille Day
Bastille Day is the name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day, which is celebrated on 14 July of each year. In France, it is formally called La Fête Nationale and commonly le quatorze juillet...
military review. When the procession reached the corner of the Avenue Marigny at about 11:05, Bouvet drew a revolver from his pocket and fired two shots at the second car, which he mistakenly believed the President was riding in. Both shots went wide, apparently due to a bystander who grabbed Bouvet's arm before he was able to aim. Bouvet dropped the revolver in the ensuing struggle and attempted to run. A police cyclist who was accompanying the procession hurled his bicycle at Bouvet which caused him to fall. The crowd immediately attacked Bouvet and threatened to lynch
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
him. The police, however, were able to pull Bouvet from the crowd and place him under arrest.
Bouvet was found to be carrying another revolver and 25 cartridges in his pockets. Upon interrogation, he declared that he intended to shoot the President "in order to make an example." He later retracted this, however, saying that he did not wish to kill anyone and that he wanted only to "make a demonstration that would attract attention to the condition of the proletariat
Proletariat
The proletariat is a term used to identify a lower social class, usually the working class; a member of such a class is proletarian...
."
Bouvet was 23 years old at the time of the attempted assassination.