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Jacques MarinFrench criminal, "public enemy No. 1"
Date of Birth: 28.12.1936
Country:  France |
Content:
Biography of Jacques René Mesrine
Jacques René Mesrine was a French criminal and the "Public Enemy No. 1" of the country. His life and actions have been the subject of several books, television films, and songs. His image in France remains one of the most controversial, with some considering him a hero of the revolution, an anarchist, and a fighter against the system, while others view him as a society's enemy, a ruthless killer, and the greatest French criminal of the 20th century.
Early Life and Criminal Beginnings
Jacques René Mesrine was born on December 28, 1936, in the French city of Clichy, into a middle-class family. He attended a Catholic college but was expelled, just like two other schools, due to his aggressive behavior. In 1956, Mesrine went to fight in Algeria and returned to France three years later. Upon his return, he, along with his friends Tony Ferrero, Johnny Luchano, and Joseph Perrin, engaged in numerous robberies.
In 1961, Mesrine was arrested for the first time and sentenced to a fine for illegal possession of weapons. A year later, he and his three friends were arrested again, this time for attempting to rob a bank. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and was released in 1963. After working in an architectural office for about a year, Mesrine returned to a life of crime in 1964.
The Criminal Path
In December 1965, Jacques Mesrine was arrested in Palma de Mallorca while attempting to steal secret documents from a local military office. He was sentenced to six months in prison. In 1966, after serving his sentence, Mesrine opened a restaurant in the Canary Islands. However, he soon returned to his old ways and robbed a Swiss jeweler. A year later, he committed a daring robbery at a hotel in Chamonix. Not stopping there, he continued to rob jewelry stores, banks, and casinos, engaging in kidnapping and arms smuggling. According to some reports, he was involved in 39 murders. He was able to disguise himself using various tricks, earning the nickname "The Man with a Thousand Faces."
On June 21, 1979, Jacques Mesrine kidnapped millionaire Henri Lelièvre and received a ransom of 6 million francs. This incident solidified his status as the "Public Enemy No. 1." Some press outlets at the time presented him as a "romantic criminal." Mesrine himself gave interviews to journalists, trying to convince society that his crimes were politically motivated. He engaged in discussions with prominent political figures and even threatened to assassinate the Minister of Justice. Mesrine was very concerned about his image and his relationship with the media.
The End
The French Ministry of the Interior demanded that all efforts of the police be focused on capturing him. The authorities finally learned about his whereabouts and devised a plan to capture him. On November 2, 1979, he was killed by police officers, shot in his car.
