Category: Paris

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Beyond the Guillotine: Positive Outcomes from the French Revolution

the french revolution had many positive outcomes
LPLT / Wikimedia Commons (2010)

So many books, articles, and journals have been written on the French Revolution, and I’m not too sure there’s any stone left to be overturned. Every point of view concerning the impact of the Revolution has been covered (at least from what I’ve read).

What about some of the tangible items that came out of the Revolution that are still around? There has to be some positive outcomes that originated in those wonderful years we know as the French Revolution. Surprisingly, there are and many of them seem like natural outcomes but several may not.

First of all, probably the most significant and the one having the most impact not only on France but the rest of the world is the internationally accepted Metric System. Prior to the Revolution, every country had its own standard for measurement. During the Revolution, many traditional forms of measurement were replaced (e.g., the calendar). Today, you can see one of the two remaining meter standards at 36, rue de Vaurigard in Paris. These were placed around Paris so people could get used to the new system of measurement: the meter was considered the universal standard. Read More Beyond the Guillotine: Positive Outcomes from the French Revolution

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Wallace Fountains

Cool, Clear, Water

Wallace fountain located at Rue de Maurepas (photo by Moonik).
Wallace fountain located at Rue de Maurepas (photo by Moonik).

Just about everyone knows that throughout the centuries, clean and drinkable water in Paris was very difficult to find. Running water didn’t come to certain parts of Paris (e.g., Village of Saint-Paul) until the early 1970s. Well, one person saw to it that the citizens of Paris, in particular the poor, had potable drinking water available to them shortly after the Paris Commune of 1871.

Shortly after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, a little-known charity called the British Charitable Fund (BCF) was established for the purpose of assisting British citizens who had moved to France and became destitute. In other words, they needed financial assistance for food and shelter. One of the largest benefactors (and later, a BCF trustee) was Sir Richard Wallace (1818–1890).

An Expat In Paris

Wallace was a British expat living in Paris who had inherited a large sum of money from his father in 1870. Among his other philanthropic endeavors, he founded a hospital. However, Sir Richard’s legacy to modern day Paris is the Wallace Fountain found throughout Paris (and other parts of the world). Read More Wallace Fountains