Though he was from a relatively comfortable middle class background he had a radical upbringing. His father had been a Communard and had served time in prison for his political activities. His brother was already well-known in anarchist circles. But it was to be young Emile who would make his mark.

He was bored, he was little interested in education and he didn’t have a job. He was an anarchist but he had the anger that came with not being taken seriously. But he would make his point even if it was in the crudest possible way.

Outraged by the treatment of his fellow anarchist Ravachol, who had been executed for throwing a bomb into the French Chamber of Deputies even though no one had been killed, he determined to avenge him. On 12 February, 1894, he bombed the Cafe Terminus in the Gare St Lazare in Paris, a popular haunt of the bourgeoisie returning home from work. Though only one person was killed many others were horribly injured by the blast and from falling glass, and it was only by good fortune that the death toll was kept so low. Still he was disappointed with the outcome. He made no attempt to conceal what he had done and likewise made no attempt to escape. He knew what his fate would be and seemed to relish his coming martyrdom, at least that’s how he saw it. Swiftly arrested he nurtured the burning hatred in his heart.

At his trial he did not endeavour to deny what he had done. When he was questioned as to why he had bombed a cafe full of innocent people, he declared that, ” there were no innocent bourgeoisie.” In his final address to the Court he said, ” In the merciless war that we have declared on the bourgeoisie we ask no mercy,we mete out death and we must face it. For that reason I await your verdict with indifference.

Upon hearing the verdict of the court he remarked, ” Hanged in Chicago, beheaded in Germany, garroted in Jerez, shot in Barcelona, decapitated in Montbrison (a reference to Ravachol) and Paris, our dead are many, I do not care.”

Emile Henry was guillotined on 21 May, 1894.