Eugène Varlin, Bookbinder, Union Organizer, Leader of the French Commune, is Executed at the end of "La semaine sanglante"

Bookbinders are not typically associated with social or political activism; Eugène Varlin was the great exception, and is remembered for his activism, and socio-political writings rather than his professional work. In 1857 Varlin was a founder of a bookbinders' mutual aid society, which became the nucleus of a bookbinders' trade union. Varlin was one of the principal organisers of the very first strike of the Parisian bookbinders in 1864. The strike was a success, so in 1865, the bookbinders repeated the exercise; this time the results were less encouraging. Varlin also founded the bookbinders' mutual savings and credit association, and he led the bookbinders' union into the International Working Men's Association (the First International), founded in 1864. He was a delegate to the London congress of the International in 1865, to the Geneva congress in 1866.

"The Franco-Prussian War went badly for Napoléon III. When his government fell, Varlin became a member of the Republican Central Committee in Paris. He also became a member of the Central Committee of the National Guard. Varlin's involvement in the premature insurrection of October 31, 1870, caused the government of Adolphe Thiers to revoke his command. Varlin also participated in the uprising on January 22. During the siege of Paris by the Prussians, Varlin devoted himself to organising relief for the population; his care packages became known as 'Varlin's marmites' (named after his co-operative restaurant). Varlin also became secretary for the French section of the First International. In February 1871, Varlin ran unsuccessfully as a Socialist-Revolutionary candidate in the elections to the National Assembly of France.

On March 18, 1871, Varlin participated in storming the Vendôme place. He was one of the authors of the Manifesto of the Parisian section of the International on March 24. On March 26 he was elected by a landslide to the Council of the Paris Commune, representing the sixth, twelfth and seventeenth arondissements (districts). He became the Commune's commissioner of finance and was the Commune's point man on labour relations. Among the various political factions which participated in the Paris Commune, Varlin sided with the Proudhonists, belonging to the left wing of that group. However, his tireless energy and idealism made him a popular figure in many quarters. On May 1, Varlin sided with the minority which voted against creating a 'Committee of Public Safety', modelled on that of the French Revolution. On May 5, he became a member of the Commune's war commission. During the 'Bloody Week' he tried in vain to save the lives of several hostages shot by the Communards. Varlin participated actively in the fighting against the troops of the Versailles government and was in charge of the defence of the sixth and eleventh arrondissements. When the Commune was suppressed, Varlin was captured, and taken to Montmartre, where he was tortured and blinded by a mob and finally shot" (Wikipedia article on Eugène Varlin, accessed 1-2021).