Pierre Joseph Duhem

Pierre Joseph Duhem (8 July 1758 – 24 March 1807) was a French physician and politician.

Early years Son of a weaver, he was born in Lille. He was study supervisor in the Collège d'Anchin (fr), in Douai, then he obtained his medical doctorate and practised medicine in Quesnoy-sur-Deûle and in the Douai Hospital.

Career in Legislative Assembly Strong supporter and advocate of revolutionary ideas, he became one of the founder members of the Société des amis de la Constitution (Jacobins) (11 November 1789), elected justice of the peace in Lille in 1790, then elected North member of parliament (MP) to Legislative Assembly in September 1791 where he sat on the left. On 17 November 1791, he gained attention in Assembly by giving a violent speech against non-juring priests. He wanted the confinement of War Ministry Narbonne-Lara but was disapproved by other MP. Throughout that period, Duhem carried out active propaganda for republican ideas in the streets, the Assembly and the sections. He took advantage of his position to be resolutely opposed to Girondists and led an armed raid on the printing establishment of Antoine Joseph Gorsas on 9 March 1793. From 4 April to 20 July 1793, he was sent again on a mission to the North Army and he denounced the Girondist Charles Zachée Varlet (fr) but he supported suspected Generals as Custine and La Marlière against Jacobins as General Jean-Baptiste de Lavalette whom he dismissed. But Robespierre and Jean Bon Saint-André took the side of Lavalette and Duhem became himself somewhat suspect. On 12 December 1793, Robespierre delivered a speech supporting dismissed Mountain Generals.

Close to the last sans-culottes, he was unable during the insurrection of 12 Germinal, Year III, to reconstruct the bands which in the past had insured the success of the journees. Arrested, he was imprisoned in Ham, then in Sedan but avoided trial.

Released under the December 1795 amnesty, he joined the North Army as physician.

Nevertheless, he remained politically involved and supported the main neo-jacobin movement during Directory as a member of the Panthéon Club. Dismissed in 1797, he was reinstated through the coup of 18 Fructidor. In 1798, he was accused of apologising for "the martyrs of the revolt of 1 Prairial Year III".

Late career Transferred to the Italy Army, then to the West Army, he was posted to the military hospital in Mainz (Mont-Tonnerre French department) in 1802.

Pierre Joseph Duhem died in Mainz in 1807 at the age of 48.