Jean-François Butini

Jean-François Butini (9 January 1747 – 21 November 1805) was a Genevan lawyer, prosecutor general, and politician who became notable for his early abolitionist writings. A member of an established Protestant family with numerous local notables, Butini combined a legal and political career with literary pursuits that reflected Enlightenment ideals.

Early life and education A citizen of the Republic of Geneva, Jean-François Butini was born into an ancient Protestant family that counted numerous local notables among its members. His father, Jacob Butini, was a merchant and member of the Council of Two Hundred, while his mother, Susanne Adrienne Françoise Rocca, was the daughter of a pastor. Butini received his education at the college and then at the Academy of Geneva, where he studied letters and philosophy.