Some 7 members of the Garde Bourgeoise, comprising mainly skilled artisans and tradesmen from the neighbouring Faubourg St-Antoine seize arms from the Hotel des Invalides and storm the Bastille, a notorious prison in which many intellectuals and political subversives (including Voltaire and Diderot) had been imprisoned, but which at the time only contained 6 prisoners. On the 15th July the Marquis de Lafayette, hero of the American war, is named commander of the Paris National Guard to defend the revolution. For two years Lafayette will lead an effective reform campaign which will also restrict political rights to property owners.
Editors. "French Revolution: Storming of the Bastille". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 December 2007
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=4231, accessed 19 December 2014.]