Marguerite Wapler or Marguerite Reclus (1859–1927), was a French

anarchist Anarchism is a political philosophy and Political movement, movement that seeks to abolish all institutions that perpetuate authority, coercion, or Social hierarchy, hierarchy, primarily targeting the state (polity), state and capitalism. A ...

activist. The daughter of a sub-prefect and wealthy industrialist, Wapler became involved in anarchist militancy. During the ''

Ère des attentats The (), or the French anarchist campaign of attacks from 1892 to 1894, was a period in the history of France and the broader Propaganda of the deed, history of propaganda of the deed (1880–1914), marked by a significant wave of political viole ...

'' (1892–1894), she supported the

National Assembly bombing The National Assembly bombing was a bomb attack carried out on 9 December 1893 in Paris by the Anarchism, anarchist militant Auguste Vaillant. Acting in reaction to other events of the ''Ère des attentats'', literally, "Era of Attacks", (1892– ...

by funding

Auguste Vaillant Auguste Vaillant (; 27 December 1861 – 5 February 1894) was a French anarchist known for his bomb attack on the French Chamber of Deputies on 9 December 1893. The French government's reaction to this attack was the passing of the infamous rep ...

to help him prepare and carry out his attack. She faced accusations and was raided during the

repression of January and February 1894 The repression of January and February 1894 was an episode of the Ère des attentats (1892–1894), during which France engaged in significant Political repression, state repression against Anarchism, anarchists. The passage of the lois scélérat ...

, but Vaillant, in his final statements, absolved her of any involvement in the plot.

Biography

Catherine Marguerite Wapler was born on 14 July 1859, in

Alexandria Alexandria ( ; ) is the List of cities and towns in Egypt#Largest cities, second largest city in Egypt and the List of coastal settlements of the Mediterranean Sea, largest city on the Mediterranean coast. It lies at the western edge of the Nile ...

, Egypt. Her father, Alphonse Wapler (1831–1890), was a wealthy industrialist from Alsace, former mayor of Vassy, and sub-prefect of the town from 1880 until his death. On 17 October 1885, Wapler married anarchist activist Paul Reclus, of the

Reclus family image: The Reclus brothers, by Nadar, 1889.jpg, The Reclus brothers in 1889. From left to right: Paul, Élisée, Élie, Onésime, and Armand The Reclus family includes the children and extended family of pastor Jacques Reclus (1796–1882) and teac ...

, at the town hall of the

5th arrondissement of Paris The 5th arrondissement of Paris (''Ve arrondissement'') is one of the 20 Arrondissements of Paris, arrondissements of Paris, the capital city of France. In spoken French, this arrondissement is referred to as ''le cinquième''. The arrondisseme ...

. During the ''

'' (1892–1894), she was one of two patrons of the

. Alongside an

illegalist Illegalism is a tendency of anarchism that developed primarily in France, Italy, Belgium and Switzerland during the late 1890s and early 1900s as an outgrowth of individualist anarchism. Illegalists embrace criminality either openly or secretl ...

anarchist, she gave twenty francs to

to carry out his attack. During his trial, Vaillant tried to clear her of involvement in the bombing, claiming that the funds she provided were due to her generosity and desire to support his family financially. Wapler was also targeted during the

, and her home was raided. This led her to respond to accusations that police had found plans for the bomb used by Vaillant during the attack. On 31 December 1914, she dined with her husband and

Pauline Kergomard Pauline Kergomard (24 April 1838 – 13 February 1925) was a French educator. She is known as the founder of the nursery school in France. Early years Pauline Reclus was born in Bordeaux in 1838. Her father was Jean Reclus, inspector of schools ...

. Wapler was the mother of two daughters who died in infancy—the last one in 1890—and two sons: Jacques Reclus and Michel Reclus (1889–1970). She died in 1927.

References

Bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wapler, Marguerite 1859 births 1927 deaths French anarchists French revolutionaries Propaganda of the deed Female revolutionaries Reclus family