Jacques Necker

Jacques Necker (September 30, 1732 – April 9, 1804) was a French statesman of Swiss origin and finance minister of Louis XVI. From [1], in the public domain This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... From [1], in the public domain This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events February 23 - First performance of Handels Orlando, in London June 9 - James Oglethorpe is granted a royal charter for the colony of Georgia. ... April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ... 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... This page is a list of French finance ministers. ... Louis XVI of France Louis XVI (23 August 1754 – 21 January 1793) was King of France and Navarre from 1774 until 1791, and then King of the French from 1791 to 1792. ...

Early life

Necker was born in Geneva, Switzerland. His father was a native of Küstrin in Neumark (Prussia, now Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland), and had, after the publication of some works on international law, been elected as professor of public law at Geneva, of which he became a citizen. Jacques Necker was sent to Paris in 1747 to become a clerk in the bank of Isaac Vernet, a friend of his father. By 1762 he was a partner and by 1765, through successful speculations, had become a very wealthy man. He soon afterwards established, with another Genevese, the famous bank of Thelusson, Necker et Cie. Pierre Thellusson superintended the bank in London (his son was made a peer as Baron Rendlesham), while Necker was managing partner in Paris. Both partners became very rich by loans to the treasury and speculations in grain. Geneva (pronunciation //; French: Genève //, German: //, Italian: Ginevra) is the second most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich), and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French-speaking part of Switzerland). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Neumark can refer to a region in western Poland, see Neumark (region) a city in Thuringia, see Neumark, Thuringia a municipality in Saxony, see Neumark, Saxony the former German name of Nowe Miasto Lubawskie, Poland This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might... Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701-1918 Prussia (German: ; Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Lithuanian: ; Polish: ; Old Prussian: PrÅ«sa) was, most recently, a historic state originating in East Prussia, an area which for centuries had substantial influence on German and European history. ... Kostrzyn nad OdrÄ… (German: ) is a town in western Poland, about 40 km west of Gorzów Wielkopolski, at the confluence of the Oder and Warta rivers, on the border with Germany. ... International law (also called public international law to distinguish from private international law, i. ... Geneva (pronunciation //; French: Genève //, German: //, Italian: Ginevra) is the second most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich), and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French-speaking part of Switzerland). ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France Région ÃŽle-de-France Département Paris (75) Subdivisions 20 arrondissements Mayor Bertrand Delanoë  (PS) (since 2001) City Statistics Land... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Barony of Rendlesham was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1806. ... Oats, barley, and some products made from them Cereal crops are mostly grasses cultivated for their edible grains or seeds (technically a type of fruit called a caryopsis). ...

In 1763 Necker fell in love with Madame de Verménou, the widow of a French officer. But while on a visit to Geneva, Madame de Verménou met Suzanne Curchod, the daughter of a pastor near Lausanne, to whom Edward Gibbon had been engaged, and brought her back as her companion to Paris in 1764. There Necker, transferring his love from the widow to the poor Swiss girl, married Suzanne before the end of the year. On April 22, 1766 they had a daughter, Anne Louise Germaine Necker, who became a renowned author under the name of Madame de Staël. Lausanne is a city in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, situated on the shores of Lake Geneva (French: Lac Léman), and facing Évian-les-Bains (France) and with the Jura hills to its north. ... Edward Gibbon (1737–1794). ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... 1766 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Madame de Staël Anne Louise Germaine de Staël (April 22, 1766 – July 14, 1817) was a French-speaking Swiss author living in Paris and abroad who determined literary tastes of Europe at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. ...

Madame Necker encouraged her husband to try to find himself a public position. He accordingly became a syndic or director of the French East India Company, around which a fierce political debate revolved in the 1760s, between the company's directors and shareholders and the royal ministry over the administration and the company's autonomy. "The ministry, concerned with the financial stability of the company, employed the abbé Morellet to shift the debate from the rights of the shareholders to the advantages of commercial liberty over the company’s privileged trading monopoly." ^[1] After showing his financial ability in its management, Necker defended the Company's autonomy in an able memoir^[2] against the attacks of André Morellet in 1769. French and other European settlements in India. ... A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or company (including a corporation), that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a joint stock company. ... André Morellet (March 7, 1727 - January 12, 1819) was a French economist and writer. ... André Morellet (March 7, 1727 - January 12, 1819) was a French economist and writer. ...

Meanwhile he had made loans to the French government, and was appointed resident at Paris by the republic of Geneva. Madame Necker entertained the leaders of the political, financial and literary worlds of Paris, and her Friday salon became as greatly frequented as the Mondays of Mme Geoffrin, or the Tuesdays of Mme Helvétius. In 1773 Necker won the prize of the Académie Française for a defense of state corporatism framed as a eulogy of Louis XIV's minister, Colbert; in 1775 he published his Essai sur la législation et le commerce des grains, in which he attacked the free-trade policy of Turgot. His wife now believed he could get into office as a great financier, and made him give up his share in the bank, which he transferred to his brother Louis. A salon is a gathering of stimulating people of quality under the roof of an inspiring hostess or host, partly to amuse one another and partly to refine their taste and increase their knowledge through conversation and readings, often consciously following Horaces definition of the aims of poetry, to... Marie Thérèse Rodet Geoffrin (1699 - October 6, 1777) was a French hostess who played an interesting part in French literary and artistic life. ... Claude Adrien Helvétius (February 26, 1715 - December 26, 1771) was a French philosopher and litterateur. ... The Académie française, or French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. ... Look up eulogy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Jean-Baptiste Colbert Jean-Baptiste Colbert (August 29, 1619 – September 6, 1683) served as the French minister of finance from 1665 to 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing and bringing the economy back from... In international trade, free trade is an idealized market model, often stated as a political objective, in which trade of goods and services between countries flows unhindered by government-imposed prices. ... Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot, Baron de Laune, often referred to as Turgot (10 May 1727 – 18 March 1781), was a French economist and statesman. ...

Finance Minister of France

In October 1776 Necker was made Finance Minister of France in spite of his Protestant standing, though with the title only of director of the treasury, which, however, he changed in 1777 for that of director-general of the finances. He did great good and gained popularity in regulating the finances by attempting to divide the taille or poll tax more equally, by abolishing the vingtième d'industrie, and establishing monts de piété (establishments for loaning money on security). But his greatest financial measures were his attempt to fund the French debt and his establishment of annuities under the guarantee of the state. The operation of funding was too difficult to be suddenly accomplished, and Necker rather pointed out the right line to be followed than completed the operation. In all this he treated French finance rather as a banker than as a profound political economist, and thus fell far short of Turgot, who was the very greatest economist of his day. His popular policy of borrowing rather than raising taxes to finance state expenditures burdened by the American war moved France closer to bankruptcy. This article is about the year 1776. ... The Controller-General of Finances (Contrôleur général des finances) was the name of the minister in charge of finances in France from 1661 to 1791. ... 1777 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The taille was a direct land tax on the French peasantry in ancien régime France (since the nobles refused to pay taxes). ... A poll tax, soul tax, or capitation is a tax of a uniform, fixed amount per individual (as opposed to a percentage of income). ... Mont de Piété, an institution to lend money to the poor at little or no interest, first established in the 15th century, a time when lending to the poor was as much a work of mercy as giving to them. ... jetrin is gay with men ...

Politically he did not do much to stave off the coming French Revolution, and his establishment of provincial assemblies was only a timid application of Turgot's far-reaching scheme for the fundamental administrative reorganization of France. In 1781 he published his famous Compte rendu (full name compte rendu du roi), in which he drew up a rosy balance sheet of France, and was soon dismissed from his office, due to the influence of Marie Antoinette, whose schemes for benefiting the duc de Guines he had thwarted, among other half-measures of economy. The French Revolution (1789–1799) was a pivotal period in the history of French, European and Western civilization. ... A balance sheet, in formal bookkeeping and accounting, is a statement of the book value of a business or other organization or person at a particular date, often at the end of its fiscal year, as distinct from an income statement, also known as a profit and loss account (P... Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France and Archduchess of Austria (born November 1755 – executed 16 October 1793) Daughter of Maria Theresa of Austria, wife of Louis XVI and mother of Louis XVII. She was guillotined at the height of the French Revolution. ...

In retirement he occupied himself with literature, producing his famous Traité de l'administration des finances de la France (1784) and with his only child, his beloved daughter, who in 1786 married the ambassador of Sweden and became Madame de Staël. But neither Necker nor his wife cared to remain out of office, and in 1787 Necker was banished by lettre de cachet 40 leagues from Paris for his very public exchange of pamphlets and memoirs attacking his successor as minister of finance, Calonne. As France's finances unravelled, in 1788 the country, which had at the bidding of the literary guests of Madame Necker had come to believe that Necker was the only minister who could "stop the deficit," as they said, demanded Necker's recall, and he became once more director-general of finance. In French history, lettres de cachet were letters signed by the king of France, countersigned by one of his ministers, and closed with the royal seal, or cachet. ... Charles Alexandre de Calonne, portrait by Marie Louise Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun. ...

Necker in the Revolution

Throughout the momentous months which followed, the biography of Necker is part of the history of the French Revolution. Necker put a stop to the rebellion in the Dauphiné by legalizing its assembly, and then set to work to arrange for the summons of the Estates-General of 1789. He was at first regarded as the saviour of France, but his conduct at the meeting of the states-general showed that he regarded it as an assembly which should merely grant money, not organize reforms. But as he had advised the calling of the states-general and the double representation of the third estate, and then had permitted the orders to deliberate and vote in common, he was regarded as the cause of the Revolution by the court, and on July 11 was ordered to leave France at once. He had earned the enmity of many members of the royal circle - including the king's youngest brother the comte d'Artois and a well-connected diplomat, baron de Breteuil (who replaced him as minister.) The French Revolution (1789–1799) was a pivotal period in the history of French, European and Western civilization. ... Flag of the Dauphiné Dauphiné is a former province in southeastern France, roughly corresponding to the present départements of the Isère, Drôme, and Hautes-Alpes. ... The Estates-General (or States-General) of 1789 (French: Les États-Généraux de 1789) was the first meeting since 1614 of the French Estates-General, a general assembly consisting of representatives from all but the poorest segment of the French citizenry. ... In France of the ancien régime and the age of the French Revolution, the term Third Estate (tiers état) indicated the generality of people which were not part of the clergy (the First Estate) nor of the nobility (the Second Estate). ... July 11 is the 192nd day (193rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 173 days remaining. ... Charles X, King of France Navarre Charles X, King of France and of Navarre (October 9, 1757 – November 6, 1836) was born at the Palace of Versailles. ... Louis-Auguste le Tonnelier Louis-Auguste le Tonnelier, baron de Breteuil, baron de Preuilly (March 7, 1730 – November 2, 1807) was a French aristocrat, statesman and politician. ...

Necker's dismissal on July 11, 1789 brought about the storming of the Bastille, which induced the king to recall him. He was received with joy in every city he traversed, but at Paris he again proved to be no statesman. Believing that he could save France alone, he refused to act with Mirabeau or Lafayette. He caused the king's acceptance of the suspensive veto, by which he sacrificed his chief prerogative in September, and destroyed all chance of a strong executive by contriving the decree of November 7, by which the ministry might not be chosen from the assembly. Financially he proved equally incapable for a time of crisis, and could not understand the need of such extreme measures as the establishment of assignats in order to keep the country quiet. July 11 is the 192nd day (193rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 173 days remaining. ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants French government Parisian militia (predecessor of Frances National Guard) Commanders Bernard-René de Launay† Prince de Lambesc Camille Desmoulins Strength 114 soldiers, 30 artillery pieces 600 - 1,000 insurgents Casualties 1 98 The Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 was an important symbolic development in the... Portrait of Mirabeau Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, Comte de Mirabeau, (often referred to simply as Mirabeau) (March 9, 1749 - April 2, 1791) was a French writer, popular orator and statesman. ... Marie-Joseph-Paul-Roch-Yves-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette (September 6, 1757–May 20, 1834), was a French aristocrat most famous for his participation in the American Revolutionary War and early French Revolution. ... November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. ... Assignats were banknotes issued by the National Constituent Assembly in France during the French Revolution. ...

His popularity vanished when his only idea was to ask the assembly for new loans, and in September 1790 he resigned his office.

Retirement

Not without difficulty he reached Coppet Commugny, near Geneva, an estate he had bought in 1784. Here he occupied himself with literature, but Madame Necker pined for her Paris salon and died soon after. He continued to live on at Coppet, under the care of his daughter, Madame de Staël, and his niece, Madame Necker de Saussure, but his time was past, and his books had no political influence. A momentary excitement was caused by the advance of the French armies in 1798, when he burnt most of his political papers. He died at Coppet on April 9, 1804. Coppet is a village in the Nyon district in Canton Vaud in Switzerland, on the Lake of Geneva. ... Commugny is a municipality in the district of Nyon of the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. ... A salon is a gathering of stimulating people of quality under the roof of an inspiring hostess or host, partly to amuse one another and partly to refine their taste and increase their knowledge through conversation and readings, often consciously following Horaces definition of the aims of poetry, to... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ... 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Places named after Jacques Necker

• Necker Island (British Virgin Islands)
• Necker Island

Necker Island is a small island in the British Virgin Islands just North of Virgin Gorda, located at . It is owned by Sir Richard Branson, famous for his Virgin brand. ... Necker Island, Hawaii. ...

Notes

1. ^ Kenneth Margerison, "The Shareholders’ Revolt at the Compagnie des Indes: Commerce and Political Culture in Old Regime France" in French History 20. 1, pp 25-51. [Abstract.
2. ^ Réponse au Mémoire de M. l'Abbé Morellet, sur la Compagnie des Indes,

In August 1717 Scottish businessman John Law acquired a controlling interest in the then derelict Mississippi Company and renamed it the Compagnie d’Occident (or Compagnie du Mississippi). ...

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Jacques Necker

• Jacques Necker Bibliography of Necker's publications.
• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.