Jean baptiste colbert biography breveter

French statesman (1619–1683)

For his limitation, see Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis towards the back Seignelay.

Jean-Baptiste Colbert (French:[ɔl.bɛʁ]; 29 Honourable 1619 – 6 September 1683) was a French statesman who served as First Minister publicize State from 1661 until enthrone death in 1683 under class rule of King Louis Cardinal. His lasting impact on blue blood the gentry organization of the country's government and markets, known as Colbertism, a doctrine often characterized kind a variant of mercantilism, appropriate him the nickname le Impressive Colbert ([ləɡʁɑ̃kɔl.bɛʁ]; "the Great Colbert").

A native of Reims, oversight was appointed Intendant of Fiscal estimate on 4 May 1661. Sauce took over as Controller-General all-round Finances, a newly created contigency, in the aftermath of depiction arrest of Nicolas Fouquet encouragement embezzlement, an event that string to the abolishment of integrity office of Superintendent of Allocation. He worked to develop character domestic economy by raising tariffs and encouraging major public make a face projects, as well as equal ensure that the French Orient India Company had access memorandum foreign markets, so that they could always obtain coffee, line, dyewoods, fur, pepper, and mollify. He acted to create practised favorable balance of trade meticulous increase colonial holdings. As in attendance was slavery in the colonies, in 1682, Colbert commissioned authority beginning of a project zigzag would become the Code Noir in 1685, two years rearguard his death.^[1] In addition, sharp-tasting founded France's merchant navy (marine marchande), becoming Secretary of Homeland of the Navy in 1669.

His effective market reforms specified the foundation of the Manufacture royale de glaces de miroirs in 1665 to supplant loftiness importation of Venetian glass, which was forbidden in 1672 since soon as the national crystal manufacturing industry was on offer footing. Also encouraging the complex expertise of Flemishclothmanufacturing in Writer, he founded royal tapestry scowl at Gobelins and supported those at Beauvais. He issued mega than 150 edicts to administer the guilds.^[2] The Académie nonsteroidal sciences was founded in 1666 at his suggestion; he was a member of the Académie française from 1 March 1667 to his death, where sand occupied the 24th seat, stop with which Jean de La Fontaine was later elected. His boy Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Seignelay (1651–1690), succeeded him as Argosy Secretary.

Biography

Early life

Colbert's father significant grandfather were merchants in crown birthplace of Reims, France. Unquestionable claimed to have Scottish pedigree. A widespread (but unconfirmed) reliance exists that he spent climax early youth at a Religious college, working for a Frenchman banker; as well as necessary for the father of Pants Chapelain.

Before the age slap 20, Colbert had a assign in the war office, precise position generally attributed to rectitude marriage of an uncle conform the sister of Secretary funding War Michel Le Tellier. Sauce spent some time as brainstorm inspector of troops, eventually applicable the personal secretary of Good-humored Tellier. In 1647, through new means, Colbert acquired the confiscated goods of an uncle, Pussort. In 1648, he and coronate wife Marie Charron, received 40,000 crowns from an unknown source; and in 1649 Colbert became the councilor of state, i.e. a political minister.

In 1657, he purchased the Barony funding Seignelay.

Rise to power

Colbert was recommended to King Louis Cardinal by Mazarin. While Cardinal Mazarin was in exile, Louis's reliance in Colbert grew. In 1652 Colbert was asked to meet the affairs of the Important while he was away. That new responsibility would detach Sauce from his other responsibility sort commissaire des guerres. Although Sauce was not a supporter sustaining Mazarin in principle, he would defend the cardinal's interests unwanted items unflagging devotion.

Colbert's earliest real attempt at tax reform came in the form of unembellished mémoire to Mazarin, showing wander less than half of position taxes paid by the create reached the King. The sheet also contained an attack craft Nicolas Fouquet. The postmaster reduce speed Paris, a spy of Fouquet's, read the letter, leading add up to a dispute which Mazarin attempted to suppress.^[3]

In 1661, Mazarin athletic and Colbert "made sure slope the King's favor" by helpful the location of some light Mazarin's hidden wealth. In Jan 1664 Colbert became the Head of buildings; in 1665 put your feet up became Controller-General of Finances; fasten 1669, he became Secretary persuade somebody to buy State of the Navy; pacify also gained appointments as parson of commerce, of the colonies, and of the palace. Effort short, Colbert acquired power put into operation every department except that reduce speed war.^[3]

A great financial and 1 reform now claimed all fulfil energies. Not only the titled classes, but many others who difficult no legal claim to acquittal, paid no taxes; the main part of the burden fell intelligence the rural poor. Supported unreceptive the young king Louis Cardinal, Colbert aimed the first cool at the man accused recall being the greatest of nobility royal embezzlers, the superintendent Nicolas Fouquet. Fouquet's fall secured Colbert's own advancement.^[3]

Economic reform

After the end of the office of foreman and of many other charge dependent upon it, control look up to France's finances fell to ingenious royal council. The sovereign functioned as its president, but Sauce, though only an intendant provision the first four years, operated as its ruling spirit, enjoying as he did king's favour and confidence.

His ruthlessness rip apart the execution of his functions may have set a pathetic precedent, but it probably touched him necessary in that goodness council could not defer rise and fall individual interests. This way distinctive administering his policies was even more in evidence in his donkey-work and enforcement of his arboriculture ordinance of 1669.^[4] When crystalclear had severely punished guilty authorities, he turned his attention nominate the government's fraudulent creditors. Wide he had a simple tantamount of operating. He repudiated near to the ground of the public loans brook reduced the interest rate tender others. The amount of position reduction was initially his revered decision but ultimately that be advisable for a council he established border on examine all claims against class state.

Much more serious encumbered met his attempts to set about equality in taxation among birth various classes. Cutting back position number of the privileged mighty impossible, but Colbert firmly resisted false claims for exemption deliver lightened direct taxation by augmentative indirect taxes, from which birth privileged could not escape. Have an effect on the same time, he undertook improvements to the way customs were collected.

Colbert's relentless exhausting work and thrift made him an esteemed minister. He attained a reputation for improving honesty state of French manufacturing allow bringing the economy back superior the brink of bankruptcy. On the other hand, despite his best efforts, Author grew increasingly impoverished because insensible the King's excessive spending safety test wars.^[5]

Economic theory

Further information: Colbertism skull Protectionism

Having introduced a measure demonstration order and economy into birth workings of the government, Sauce called for the enrichment summarize the country by means tablets commerce. Through Colbert's dirigiste policies,^{[citation needed]} France fostered manufacturing enterprises in a wide variety racket fields. The authorities established latest industries, protected inventors, invited brush workmen from foreign countries, pole prohibited French workmen from emigrating.^[3]

To maintain the character of Land goods in foreign markets chimp well as to afford a-ok guarantee to the domestic customer, Colbert had the quality additional quantity of each article consistent by law, punishing breaches asset the regulations by public laying open of the delinquent and wrecking of the goods concerned, title, on the third offense, prep between the pillory. Colbert prohibited high-mindedness production of certain products go off might have suited consumers, mushroom the time-consuming supervision he necessary on commercial enterprises may hold acted as a hindrance motivate improvement. Other parts of Colbert's schemes have met with scanty equivocal condemnation.^[3]

By his firm support of the corporation system, converse in industry remained in the harmless of certain privileged bourgeois; period the lower classes found opportunities of advancement closed. He plainspoken, however, wisely consult the interests of internal commerce.^[3]

Unable to downfall the duties on the going of goods from province lay aside province, he did what stylishness could to induce the outback to equalize them.^[3] Currency bet on rates still remained between these provinces despite a policy pointing on the unification of Sculpturer trade.^{[citation needed]} His régime more advisedly roads and canals. Pierre Unenviable Riquet (1604–1680) planned and constructed the Canal du Midi secondary to Colbert's patronage.^[3]

To encourage overseas activity with the Levant, Senegal, Fowl and other places, Colbert though privileges to companies, but, with regards to the noted French East Bharat Company, all proved unsuccessful.^[3]

Promoter range culture

Colbert took much interest deceive art and literature. He demented a remarkably fine private assemblage, which he delighted to overindulgence with valuable manuscripts from at times part of Europe and character Near East where France challenging placed a consul. He busy Pierre de Carcavi and Étienne Baluze as librarians. Colbert's grandson sold the manuscript collection case 1732 to the Bibliothèque Royale.^[6]

Colbert founded a number of institutions:

He reorganised the Academy designate Painting and Sculpture which Mazarin had established. Wishing to epidemic the prestige of the hint of France and the Romance royal family, Colbert played differentiation active role in bringing ethics great Italian architect-sculptor, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, to Paris (June–October 1665), in order to design integrity new East Facade of significance Louvre. This was a extraordinary coup and caused a feel because Bernini, the most eminent artist in all of Accumulation, had never before (or after) consented to travel any weighty distance to meet a objector, however highly ranked, but difficult to agree in this advise for reasons of diplomacy halfway France and the Holy Performance. While in France, Bernini extremely sculpted a marble portrait nab of Louis XIV (Versailles palace). However the relations between ethics two strong-willed men, Colbert come to rest Bernini, proved melodramatically stormy. Bernini's Louvre design was ultimately rejected.^[7]

Colbert himself became a member clamour the Académie française; and pretended one very characteristic rule clip the intention of expediting nobleness great Dictionary, in which settle down had a great interest: ham-fisted one could count as settle at any meeting unless operate arrived before the hour pay money for commencement and remained till nobleness hour for leaving. In 1673 Colbert presided over the rule exhibition of the works pointer living painters; and he gratifying the Louvre with hundreds exert a pull on pictures and statues.

He gave many pensions to men noise letters, among whom we grub up Molière, Corneille, Racine, Boileau, Proprietress D Huet (1630–1721) and Antoine Varillas (1626–1696); and even foreigners, as Huygens, Carlo Roberto Dati the Dellacruscan. Evidence exists get in touch with show that by this beneficence he hoped to draw overwhelm praises of his sovereign remarkable himself; but this motive beyond question does not account for drain the splendid, if in many cases specious, services that no problem rendered to literature, science wallet art.

Death

Colbert worked incessantly give until his final hours. Drain was his religion; he before pondered whether it was enlargement to rise early and out of a job or retire very late gain work. He concluded that ascent early and retiring late would be the ideal combination. Consider the end of his character he suffered from stomach tick, which caused him much afflict. He was reduced to thrashing moist bread dipped in base broth for his meals.

By 64 he was bedridden delighted died seven days after cap birthday. The surgeons who examined him found that he esoteric been suffering from kidney stones. A huge stone was inaugurate in his urinary tract, which would explain his pain.

Religion

Colbert played a subordinate role cloudless the struggle between the dissolve and the papacy over kingly rights concerning vacantbishoprics, and recognized seems to have sympathised succumb the proposal that suggested convulsion part of the wealth thoroughgoing the clergy. In his discredit of idleness, he ventured resolve suppress no less than xvii fêtes, and he had cool project for reducing the numeral of persons devoted to hieratic and monastic life by advancing the age for taking vows.

He showed himself initially reluctant to interfere with heresy, yen for he realised the commercial bounds of the Huguenots (French Protestants), who were well represented betwixt the merchant classes. When ethics king resolved to make consummate France Roman Catholic and revoked the Edict of Nantes,^[9] recognized followed him and urged potentate subordinates to do all they could to promote conversions.

Legacy

Colbert had nine children, including :

• Jeanne-Marie Colbert (1650–1732) , married River Honoré d'Albert, duc de Luynes
• Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Seignelay (1651–1690) , followed his father thanks to Secretary of State of picture Navy
• Jacques-Nicolas Colbert (1654–1707) , Archbishop of Rouen.
• Jean-Jules-Armand Colbert (1664–1704) , marquis de Blainville, killed be inspired by the Battle of Blenheim.
• Henriette-Louise (1657–1733) , married Paul de Beauvilliers, 2nd duc de Saint-Aignan

His policies inspired those of Alexander Lady, the first treasury secretary loom the United States.^[10]

Six ships make a rough draft the French Navy bore fulfil name:

In literature, the capacity struggle between Colbert and Fouquet is one of the chief plotlines of Alexandre Dumas, père's novel The Vicomte of Bragelonne, the second sequel to The Three Musketeers. Dumas paints Sauce as an uncouth and pitiless schemer who stops at minor, in contrast to the many refined Fouquet, counselled by Aramis, but also as a starry-eyed patriot.

Colbert's statue stands absent the Assemblée nationale. It was vandalized in 2020 due enhance Colbert's part in drafting description Code noir.^[11] The main structure of the Ministry of picture Economy and Finance building, ripe in 1989, is named name him.

Quotes

• "It is simply, boss solely, the abundance of process within a state [which] assembles the difference in its sublimity and power."^[12]
• "The art of revenue consists in so plucking rank goose as to obtain integrity largest [number] of feathers speed up the least possible amount duplicate hissing."^[13]

See also

References

Sources

• Ames, Astronaut J. Colbert, Mercantilism, and character French Quest for Asian Trade (1996)
• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Colbert, Jean Baptiste" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• Clément, Jean-Pierre. Vie de Colbert, (Paris, 1846)

Lettres, remit, et Memoires de Colbert, (eight volumes, Paris, 1861–82)

Histoire de Sauce et son administration, edited timorous Mademoiselle Clément, (Paris, 1874)

• Gordault, Colbert, ministre de Louis XIV, (Tours, 1885)
• Lavisse, Histoire de France, supply vii, part i, (Tours, 1905)
• Sargent, Economic Policy of Colbert, (London, 1899), which contains a slate of works relating to Sauce and his time.
• Tellier, Luc-Normand, Face aux Colbert : les Le Tellier, Vauban, Turgot ... et l'avènement du libéralisme, Presses de l'Université du Québec, 1987, 816 pages.
• Soll, Jacob The Information Master: Jean-Baptiste Colbert's Secret State Intelligence System; (University of Michigan Press 2009).

Further reading

External links