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Calas, Jean 1698-1762
French Huguenot tradesman

He was born in Lacabarčde. In 1761 he was accused, on the flimsiest evidence, of murdering his eldest son (a suicide) in order to prevent him becoming a Catholic. He was found guilty, and executed by being broken on the wheel. A revision of the trial followed as a result of a campaign led by Voltaire, and in 1765 parliament declared Calas and all his family innocent.