Maximilien Robespierre was a key figure during the French Revolution, known for his role in the radical phase of the revolution. He was a member of the National Assembly and later the Committee of Public Safety, where he advocated for the rights of the common people and the establishment of a republic. His leadership contributed to the Reign of Terror, a period marked by political purges and executions. Robespierre believed in the necessity of virtue and terror to achieve a just society. His policies aimed to eliminate corruption and promote equality, but his extreme measures led to widespread fear. Ultimately, he was arrested and executed in 1794, marking the end of the Reign of Terror.