What if the stones of Rue Lesage Senault could talk? They might tell tales of revolution and reinvention. This street is named after Gaspard Jean Joseph Lesage-Senault. He was a man of the French Revolution.
Rue Lesage Senault is more than just a street. It is a link to a pivotal time in French history. Lesage-Senault was born in Lille. He later died in exile in Tournai. Tournai is now in Belgium.
In September 1792 Lesage-Senault became a deputy for the Nord department. He was the sixth of twelve elected to the National Convention. Do not confuse him with Denis-Toussaint Lesage. Denis-Toussaint Lesage was a deputy from Eure-et-Loir.
Gaspard Jean Joseph Lesage-Senault sat with the Montagne. This was a radical faction during the Revolution. He voted for the death of Louis XVI. He opposed appealing to the people. He also opposed delaying the execution. Lesage-Senault declared they were sent to save the Republic. They were not there to incite civil war.
On March 9 1793 Lesage-Senault was sent on a mission. He went with Lazare Carnot. They were sent to the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments. On April 13 he was absent for the vote. The vote concerned the accusation of Jean-Paul Marat. On May 28 he voted against restoring the Commission of Twelve.
After Robespierre’s fall Lesage-Senault sat with the remaining Montagnards. During the insurrection of 12 Germinal An III former members were deported. These members were from the Committee of Public Safety. Lesage-Senault signed the request for a roll-call vote.
In October 1795 Lesage-Senault was re-elected. This happened under the Directoire. He served in the Council of Five Hundred. He was chosen by lot to leave the Council on May 20 1797.
Lesage-Senault opposed the coup of 18 Brumaire. He was deported to Charente-Maritime. He stayed away from politics during the First Empire. The law of 1816 targeted regicides. He died in exile in Belgium because of this law.
Imagine Lesage-Senault walking these streets. He was a man of conviction during turbulent times. Rue Lesage Senault stands as a reminder. It reminds us of the complexities of history. It also reminds us of the individuals who shaped it. The street’s name echoes through time. It connects us to the ideals and struggles of the French Revolution.