François Barbé-Marbois

François Marquis de Barbé - Marbois ( born January 31, 1745 in Metz, † February 12, 1837 in Paris) was a French politician.

Life

He was from 1769 still under the Ancien Régime in embassies to various German courts operate. Of those was in 1778 the kurbayerische Hof in Munich, where he, as the exchange negotiations between Austria and the new Elector Karl Theodor were that spring in the decisive phase, the efforts of the Prussian ambassador Count Johann Eustace Görtz - an old acquaintance - Supported. In 1780 he went as consul to America and in 1785 director general of Saint Domingue. The end of 1789 he returned to France and made his services to the French Revolution government. In 1791 they sent him to the Diet of Regensburg, where he was to assist the French Ambassador de Noailles. After his return he was suspected of treason and arrested, but soon released.

In 1795 he was elected mayor of Metz and later in the council of elders ( a chamber of the Parliament during the Board ). His moderate attitude, especially towards the exclusion of nobles from public life, brought him under suspicion of being a royalist, though he had made a speech in praise of Napoleon's success in Italy.

After the coup of the 18th Fructidor V (4 September 1797) he was arrested and deported to Sinnamary (French Guiana ). In 1799 he came to the island of Oleron. After the coup of 18 Brumaire (9 November 1799), came to power by Napoleon, he owed his freedom to the new ruler. In 1801 he was State Council and Director of the Public Finance and Senator in 1802. In 1803 he negotiated the Louisiana Purchase, were sold by the large areas in North America to the United States. Napoleon rewarded him for it with 152,000 francs. In 1805 he became an officer of the Legion of Honour and Count. His career as a Treasury Minister ended 1806. 1808 he became President of the Court.

In gratitude for the favors he taught servile compliments to Napoleon. Nevertheless, he helped in 1814 to put on the abdication of the Kaiser. In June 1814 it made ​​Louis XVIII. a peer of France, and confirmed him in his office as President of the Court. Robbed by Napoleon during the Hundred Days of his offices, he was in August 1815 the Minister of Justice in the government of the Duc de Richelieu. In this office he tried in vain to get the trust of the ultra - royalists and came after nine months on May 10, 1816 back again.

When Louis Philippe with the July Monarchy in 1830 took over the government, Barbé - Marbois made ​​him as President of the Court to pay his respects and was confirmed in office. This was the sixth government he served until his retirement from office in April 1834.

Works (selection)

• Lettres Et Réponses à Madame La Marquise De écrites Pompadour: depuis MDCCLIII. jusqu'à MDCCLXII. inclusive management. ( 1772) (issue of forged letters of Madame de Pompadour )
• Reflexions sur la colonie de Saint- Domingue (1794 )
• De la Guyane, etc. ( 1822)
• Histoire de la Louisiane et de la cession cette colonie par la France aux Etats- Unis, etc. ( 1828)
• Journal d'un deportee non jugée, 2 volumes (1834 )