Events from the year 1789 in France
Incumbents Monarch – Louis XVI
Events
Date Events Photos Refs Sunday, 26 April Riot in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine suburb of Paris against the manufacturer of Réveillon wallpapers. Tuesday, 5 May Convention of the Estates-General of 1789, the first meeting since 1614 of the Estates-General Saturday, 20 June The Tennis Court Oath is made in Versailles. Thursday, 9 July Forming of the National Constituent Assembly Saturday, 11 July Louis XVI dismisses popular Chief Minister Jacques Necker. Sunday, 12 July An angry Parisian crowd, inflamed by a speech from journalist Camille Desmoulins, demonstrates against the King's decision to dismiss Necker. Paris is in a state of generalized riot. There are clashes between the protesters and the riders of the Royal-Allemand cavalry. Monday, 13 July The convent of Saint-Lazare is totally looted and ransacked following a rumor that grains and weapons would be stored there. The people begin to seize arms for the defense of Paris. Tuesday, 14 July Citizens of Paris storm the fortress of the Bastille, and free the only seven prisoners held. In rural areas, peasants attack manors of the nobility. The governor of the Bastille, Launay, three officers and three disabled are arrested and escorted to the city hall and massacred by the crowd. Jacques de Flesselles, provost of the merchants of Paris, is accused of treason and killed with a pistol shot. Wednesday, 15 July In the morning, the king announces before the assembly that he has given the order to withdraw the troops from Paris. The crowd seizes the arsenal at Rennes; the soldiers refuse to fire on the people. Cannons of Paris are brought to Montmartre. Sunday, 19 July Storming of the city hall of Strasbourg. Wednesday, 22 July The Controller-General of Finances, Foullon and the Intendant of Paris, Bertier de Savigny, are massacred during a riot. The Grande Peur, a period of rural unrest, begins in the Franche-Comté. Tuesday, 4 August Members of the National Constituent Assembly take an oath to end feudalism and abandon their privileges. Thursday, 1 October Banquet of the Gardes du Corps at Versailles. Monday, 5 October Women's March on Versailles
Births 4 January – Alphonse Henri d'Hautpoul, military officer and politician (died 1865) 21 August – Augustin-Louis Cauchy, mathematician (died 1857) 28 August – Stéphanie de Beauharnais, nobility (died 1860) 31 December – Claudius Crozet, educator and engineer (died 1864)
Deaths
2 February – Armand-Louis Couperin, composer and keyboard player (born 1727) 9 May – Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval, artillery officer (born 1715) 15 May – Jean-Baptiste Marie Pierre, painter (born 1714) 15 July – Jacques Duphly, composer and harpsichordist (born 1715) 3 December – Claude Joseph Vernet, painter (born 1714). 23 December – Charles-Michel de l'Épée, philanthropist, developer of signed French (born 1712)
See also
References