Joseph-Ignace Guillotin

Joseph-Ignace Guillotin was a French physician and politician best known for proposing a more humane method of capital punishment during the French Revolution. In 1789, he introduced a device—later called the guillotine—to make execution quicker and less painful. Although he did not invent the device itself, his advocacy helped popularize its use, which became a symbol of revolutionary justice. Guillotin's intention was to reduce suffering associated with execution, reflecting his concern for humanitarian reform. The guillotine remained a prominent method of execution in France until the death penalty was abolished.