Necker Jacques

Necker, Jacques (1732-1804), French financier, was born at Geneva, and became a banker's clerk at Paris at the age of fifteen, and in 1762 founded the London and Paris Bank of Thellusson and Necker. He soon after became a syndic of the French East India Company, and minister for the republic of Geneva. In 1764 he married Suzanne Curchod, an old love of Gibbon's, and the salon of Mme. Necker became famous in Paris. After writing a Protectionist essay on Commerce des Grains, he became Director of the Treasury in 1776, and Director-General of Finance the next year. He tried to do good to the country, and inaugurated a system of annuities and a mont de piete, while he wished to put the assessment of taxes in the hands of provincial assemblies. This project caused his dismissal, the pretext being a compte-renclu which he brought out in 1781. He retired to Geneva, but returned to France, and was reappointed to his former office in 1788. His last public measure was the issue of assignats, and in 1790 he retired finally to Geneva.