Jean-Baptiste Colbert

29 August 1619 – 6 September 1683

Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619-1683) was the French statesman who served as Controller-General of Finances under Louis XIV from 1665 until his death. The leading practitioner of mercantilism, he reformed French finances, promoted manufacturing and overseas trade, built up the navy, and founded institutions including the Academy of Sciences and the French East India Company.

Comparing
Compare

Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Jean-Baptiste Colbert.

Life events

Born in Reims
29 August 1619

Jean-Baptiste Colbert was born on 29 August 1619 into a family of merchants in Reims.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Married Marie Charron
1648

Colbert married Marie Charron in 1648; the marriage brought him a substantial dowry and they had several children.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relationship ✓
Entered the service of Cardinal Mazarin
c. 1651

Around 1651 Colbert became the personal agent managing the financial affairs of Cardinal Mazarin, chief minister of France.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Helped bring about the downfall of Nicolas Fouquet
5 September 1661

After Mazarin's death in 1661, Colbert supplied Louis XIV with evidence of superintendent Fouquet's financial abuses, leading to Fouquet's arrest and Colbert's rise.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Founded the French East India Company
1664

In 1664 Colbert established the Compagnie française pour le commerce des Indes orientales to compete with Dutch and English trade in Asia.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Appointed Controller-General of Finances
1665

Louis XIV made Colbert Controller-General in 1665, from which post he directed the French economy on mercantilist principles.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Founded the French Academy of Sciences
22 December 1666

Colbert organized the Académie des sciences in Paris in 1666 to advance scientific research under royal patronage.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Became Secretary of State for the Navy
1669

As naval secretary from 1669, Colbert rebuilt the French navy into one of the largest fleets in Europe and developed ports such as Brest and Rochefort.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Died in Paris
6 September 1683

Jean-Baptiste Colbert died on 6 September 1683, still in office as Controller-General of Finances.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓