Joseph Déjacque
French anarchist poet who coined 'libertarian' and founded Le Libertaire.
Axlferrari · Public domain
Joseph Déjacque was a French political journalist, poet, and house painter who became a prominent anarchist voice in the mid-19th century. He is remembered as an early forerunner of anarchist communism and for coining the political definition of the word 'libertarian' (French: libertaire).
- field
- Political journalism, poetry
- nationality
- French
- known_for
- Coining the political definition of 'libertarian'; founding Le Libertaire, the f
Lore & Background
His father died when he was an infant, and his mother worked as a washerwoman. He became involved with the radical workers' group that published L'Atelier and taught himself to write 'social poetry'. His experiences radicalised him toward anarchism, and he regularly criticised republican politicians for anti-worker sentiment.
Reader's Guide
Joseph Déjacque's significance lies in his role as an early anarchist communist and his linguistic legacy. He coined the political definition of the word 'libertarian' (French: libertaire), a term that would become central to anarchist movements worldwide. In exile in the United States, he established Le Libertaire in New York City, the first non-English-language anarchist newspaper in the country, in which he serialized his utopian fiction novel L'humanisphère. Though he died in obscurity after returning to France, his writings and organizational efforts influenced later anarchist thought, particularly in linking anti-authoritarianism with anti-capitalism and gender equality.
Did You Know?
- Joseph Déjacque coined the political definition of the word 'libertarian' (French: libertaire).
- He founded Le Libertaire in New York City, the first non-English-language anarchist newspaper in the United States.
- He serialized his utopian fiction novel L'humanisphère in Le Libertaire.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Joseph Déjacque?
He was a French political journalist, poet, and house painter who emerged as a prominent anarchist voice during the mid-19th century.
What is Joseph Déjacque most known for?
He is credited with giving the word 'libertarian' (libertaire in French) its political meaning, and he is remembered as an early pioneer of anarchist communism.
What was Le Libertaire?
It was the first anarchist newspaper published in the United States in a language other than English, and Déjacque founded it.
When was Joseph Déjacque born and when did he die?
He was born on 27 December 1821 and passed away on 18 November 1865.
Why is Joseph Déjacque important in the history of political thought?
He is regarded as an early forerunner of anarchist communism and is the person who established the political definition of 'libertarian' that remains in use today.
More in Political Theorists And Social Scientists 1-24
Elsewhere in the Political Theorists And Social Scientists universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record