Robespierre

English

Proper noun

Robespierre

1. The French Revolutionary leader Maximilien Robespierre, 1758–1794. Often used as a byword for a murderous demagogue or tyrant.
   • 1863, Edward Dicey, Spectator of America‎^[1], Quadrangle, published 1971, page 25:

     Why, Greeley wants to be blood-thirsty — he wants to be a little Robespierre.

   • 1922 October 2, “Gonatas Not a Robespierre”, in Boston Daily Globe‎^[2], archived from the original on 30 June 2013:

     "I am not, as you have seen, a Robespierre, and I don't even want to be thought of as a military dictator," said Col Gonatas, leader of the revolutionary movement, […]

   • 2007, Peter Heller, The Whale Warriors‎^[3], →ISBN, page 64:

     During communications blackouts when Allison, who was the Robespierre of the ship, forbade all outside contacts, Taggart lurched out onto the aft deck, […]

French

Proper noun

Robespierre ?

1. a French surname