Jean-Baptiste Colbert was a French statesman born on 29 August 1619 in Reims. He served as First Minister of State from 1661 until his death on 6 September 1683 under King Louis XIV. Colbert was appointed Intendant of Finances on 4 May 1661 and later became Controller-General of Finances after the arrest of Nicolas Fouquet for embezzlement. He focused on developing the domestic economy by raising tariffs, promoting public works, and ensuring the French East India Company had access to foreign markets for essential goods. Colbert aimed to create a favorable balance of trade and expand colonial holdings, commissioning the beginnings of the Code Noir in 1682, which would regulate slavery in the colonies. He also founded France's merchant navy and became Secretary of State of the Navy in 1669.Colbert implemented effective market reforms, including the establishment of the Manufacture royale de glaces de miroirs in 1665 to reduce reliance on Venetian glass. He encouraged the development of the French textile industry by founding royal tapestry works at Gobelins and supporting those at Beauvais. He issued over 150 edicts to regulate guilds and was instrumental in the founding of the Académie des sciences in 1666. Colbert was a member of the Académie française from 1667 until his death, occupying the 24th seat.Colbert's early life included a background in commerce, with his father and grandfather being merchants. He held various positions in the war office and became the personal secretary of Secretary of War Michel Le Tellier. His rise to power began with recommendations from Cardinal Mazarin, and he gained the King's trust by revealing hidden wealth after Mazarin's death in 1661. Colbert's financial reforms targeted tax inequities, aiming to ensure that the nobility and others who evaded taxes contributed fairly. He faced challenges in equalizing taxation but improved tax collection methods and increased indirect taxes.Colbert's economic policies promoted commerce and manufacturing, establishing new industries and protecting inventors. He regulated the quality of goods and sought to unify trade across provinces, improving infrastructure such as roads and canals. He supported overseas trade by granting privileges to companies, although many of these ventures were unsuccessful. Colbert also took an interest in culture and science, founding several academies and supporting artists and writers, including Molière and Racine.Colbert worked diligently until his final days, suffering from health issues that ultimately led to his death at the age of 64. He left behind a legacy of economic reform and cultural patronage, influencing future economic policies, including those of Alexander Hamilton in the United States. Colbert had nine children, including his son Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Seignelay, who succeeded him as Secretary of State of the Navy.