Madame Roland, front and reverse of a promotional card for 'Poulain' chocolate with illustrations of...

Mme Roland, née Jeanne Manon Philipon (1754-93); French writer and political figure; both she and her husband, Jean-Marie Roland, were initially ardent supporters of the French Revolution but later opposed any excesses; this led to unpopularity and imprisonment and later, after accusations by Robespierre of treachery and Royalist sympathies, she was condemned to death and guillotined on 8 November, 1793; on her way to the guillotine as she passed the statue of Liberty, she cried out: 'O Liberté, que de crimes on commet en ton nom' ('Oh Liberty, what crimes are committed in your name');