Eugène Pottier

Eugène Pottier (1816 - 1887) was a French revolutionary socialist, poet, and transport worker. Pottier was elected a member of the Paris municipal council - the Paris Commune, in March 1871. During the Commune he wrote the poem L'Internationale which, once set to music by Pierre Degeyter, became the International Workingmen's Association anthem during its last years (1871 - 1876), and has been used by most socialist and leftist political internationals since.