Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre, better known as Maximilien de Robespierre (it's still a bit of a mouthful, isn't it?) was one of the most influential figures of the French Revolution. Don't worry if you weren't paying attention in history class. We'll bring you bang up to date on the antics of the French lawyer and politician. He counted himself as a member of the Estates General Constituent Assembly and the Jacobin Club and he was quite the forward thinker.
Maximilien de Robespierre bravely opposed the death penalty, supported equal rights, and advocated the abolishment of slavery, amongst many other noble deeds. What a guy. Imagining what he went through in the revolution which became commonly known as the Reign of Terror is pretty impossible. He met his early demise in 1794, aged 36.