Politician during French Revolution. The fifth child of a local tax collector and his wife, he attended the college of the Doctrinaires of Draguigan with an eye towards serving as a professional soldier. His poor health stymied that future and he turned instead to theology, spending ten years at Saint Sulpice seminary with additional studies at the Sorbonne. While at the Sorbonne, he was heavily influenced by John Locke and other Enlightenment thinkers. In 1772, he was ordained as a priest. Three years later, he found his first real position as secretary to the Bishop of Treguier. For the next seven years, continuing in the bishop's service, saw Sieyes become vicar general and eventually canon and chancellor of the diocese of Chartres. During this same time, however, he became increasing dissatisfied with the career advantages offered casually to the nobility compared to commoners. When King Louis XVI of France called for a meeting of the Estates-General of France in 1788, Sieyes was prompted to publish his pamphlet, "What is the Third Estate?" In it, he identified the underprivileged and often ignored majority class of the French population. He believed this "third estate" alone had the right to formulate any new constitution. The problems of France were not limited to royal overreach but systemic privileges granted to the nobility and the church hierarchy. The overwhelming popularity of his pamphlet led to his election to the constitutional committee as a representative of the Third Estate to the convocation. He called for an equality of voting, a united body of all three estates, and a removal of the King's veto of constitutional matters. This failed and so under his guidance, the Third Estate was renamed the National Assembly and assumed authority to legislate for the French people. King Louis' refusal to recognize the Assembly were the first volleys in what would become the French Revolution. He did vote in 1793 with the majority for the king's execution, but when radicals launched the "Reign of Terror," he withdrew from politics, offended at the direction the revolution has taken. In October of 1795, he was elected to the Council of Five Hundred, and four years later, was elected to a seat on the Directory, France's executive board. Upon Napoleon Bonaparte's return to France, Sieyes joined him in a coup, allowing Napoleon to seize power. He along with Napoleon and Ducos were named Consuls of the French Republic. In this incarnation of government, he envisioned a Tribunate to present laws and College to protect the constitution which Napoleon promptly disregarded naming himself first consul and supreme ruler of France. By 1800, Sieyes retired. He was nominated grand officer of the Legion of Honor in 1804 and a count of the empire in 1808. Sieyes was banished as a regicide by King Louis XVIII, but returned to Paris in 1830 where he died six years later. In 1780, he created the term "sociologie" which today is known in English as sociology.
Politician during French Revolution. The fifth child of a local tax collector and his wife, he attended the college of the Doctrinaires of Draguigan with an eye towards serving as a professional soldier. His poor health stymied that future and he turned instead to theology, spending ten years at Saint Sulpice seminary with additional studies at the Sorbonne. While at the Sorbonne, he was heavily influenced by John Locke and other Enlightenment thinkers. In 1772, he was ordained as a priest. Three years later, he found his first real position as secretary to the Bishop of Treguier. For the next seven years, continuing in the bishop's service, saw Sieyes become vicar general and eventually canon and chancellor of the diocese of Chartres. During this same time, however, he became increasing dissatisfied with the career advantages offered casually to the nobility compared to commoners. When King Louis XVI of France called for a meeting of the Estates-General of France in 1788, Sieyes was prompted to publish his pamphlet, "What is the Third Estate?" In it, he identified the underprivileged and often ignored majority class of the French population. He believed this "third estate" alone had the right to formulate any new constitution. The problems of France were not limited to royal overreach but systemic privileges granted to the nobility and the church hierarchy. The overwhelming popularity of his pamphlet led to his election to the constitutional committee as a representative of the Third Estate to the convocation. He called for an equality of voting, a united body of all three estates, and a removal of the King's veto of constitutional matters. This failed and so under his guidance, the Third Estate was renamed the National Assembly and assumed authority to legislate for the French people. King Louis' refusal to recognize the Assembly were the first volleys in what would become the French Revolution. He did vote in 1793 with the majority for the king's execution, but when radicals launched the "Reign of Terror," he withdrew from politics, offended at the direction the revolution has taken. In October of 1795, he was elected to the Council of Five Hundred, and four years later, was elected to a seat on the Directory, France's executive board. Upon Napoleon Bonaparte's return to France, Sieyes joined him in a coup, allowing Napoleon to seize power. He along with Napoleon and Ducos were named Consuls of the French Republic. In this incarnation of government, he envisioned a Tribunate to present laws and College to protect the constitution which Napoleon promptly disregarded naming himself first consul and supreme ruler of France. By 1800, Sieyes retired. He was nominated grand officer of the Legion of Honor in 1804 and a count of the empire in 1808. Sieyes was banished as a regicide by King Louis XVIII, but returned to Paris in 1830 where he died six years later. In 1780, he created the term "sociologie" which today is known in English as sociology.
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Bio by: Winter Birds PA