Jean-Baptiste Colbert

Jean-Baptiste Colbert (August 29, 1619 – September 6, 1683) served as the French minister of finance for 22 years under King Louis XIV. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing and bringing the economy back from the brink of bankruptcy; although - historians note - since Louis spent so much money (on luxury and wars) France actually became increasingly impoverished. Colbert worked to create a favourable balance of trade and increase France's colonial holdings. Historians of mercantilism consider Colbert a key figure.

Publications

• Clément, Vie de Colbert, (Paris, 1846)

:Lettres, instructions, et Memoires de Colbert, (nine volumes, Paris, 1861-82)

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:Histoire de Colbert et son administration, edited by Mademoiselle Clément, (Paris, 1874)

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• Gordault, Colbert, ministre de Louis XIV, (Tours, 1885)
• Lavisse, Histoire de France, volume vii, part i, (Tours, 1905)
• Sargent, Economic Policy of Colbert, (London, 1899), which contains a bibliography of works relating to Colbert and his time.