Charles Alexandre De Calonne

Background

Charles Alexandre de Calonne was born on January 20, 1734 at Douai of a good family.

Career

Charles Alexandre de Calonne entered the profession of the law, and became in succession advocate to the general council of Artois, procureur to the parlement of Douai, master of requests, then intendant of Metz (1768) and of Lille (1774).

In October 1785 he recoined the gold coinage, and he developed the caisse d' escompte.

Turgot and Necker had attempted these reforms, and Calonne attributed their failure to the malevolent criticism of the parlements.

Therefore he had an assembly of " notables '' called together in January 1787.

This suppression of privileges was badly received by the privileged notables.

Calonne, angered, printed his reports and so alienated the court.

Louis XVI dismissed him on the 8th of April 1787 and exiled him to Lorraine.

The joy was general in Paris, where Calonne, accused of wishing to augment the imposts, was known as " Monsieur Deficit. "

In reality his audacious plan of reforms, which Necker took up later, might have saved the monarchy had it been firmly seconded by the king.

Calonne soon afterwards passed over to England, and during his residence there kept up a polemical correspondence with Necker on the finances.

In 1789, when the states-general were about to assemble, he crossed over to Flanders in the hope of being allowed to offer himself for election, but he was sternly forbidden to enter France.

In x 80 2, having again taken up his abode in London, he received permission from Napoleon to return to France.

Achievements

• Charles Alexandre de Calonne is remembered for his involvement in the French Revolution.

Connections

Charles Alexandre de Calonne married Marie Joséphine Marquet then Anne-Rose de Nettine.

He had one son.

Spouse:

Anne-Rose

Spouse:

Marie