The lacy dressed fellow above is one Jacques Necker, born this day 1732 in Geneva, Switzerland. M. Necker is a blast from the past in more ways than one. Of course the first way is the fact that he was around when the French Revolution took place, but reason number two is more personal. In a previous life I was a history graduate student (and a piss poor one by all accounts), and M. Necker was briefly an object of study for me. More to the point some bastard professor made me read some dry as dust tome about M. Necker, and his financial reforms as King Louis XVI's finance minister. The financial wizardry that he possessed led to him being hailed as a hero in a France on the verge of revolution. However, that wizardry was, sadly for him, limited to financial matters. He was, again sadly for him, eventually called on to be more than a numbers guy. King Louis needed a stateman, and Necker was not a statesman. His dismissal from his job on July 11th, 1789, led to widespread public angry, and the King was forced to recall him to his position. Alas, no manner of financial genius could save France from the road to ruin, and the revolution broke out three days later. M. Necker stayed in office till 1790, but he was unable to regain his magic touch, and resigned with his reputation in ruins. His other claim to fame is not too shabby either he was the father of Madame de Stael, who grew up to be a fairly famous author in her own right. So for at least trying to save France from the ruin of revolution, and for being a central character in a lot of those, now largely forgotten, graduate studies of mine, Jacques Necker (September 30th, 1732- April 9th, 1804 at the age of 71), you are my hero of the day.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Show me the Money!
The lacy dressed fellow above is one Jacques Necker, born this day 1732 in Geneva, Switzerland. M. Necker is a blast from the past in more ways than one. Of course the first way is the fact that he was around when the French Revolution took place, but reason number two is more personal. In a previous life I was a history graduate student (and a piss poor one by all accounts), and M. Necker was briefly an object of study for me. More to the point some bastard professor made me read some dry as dust tome about M. Necker, and his financial reforms as King Louis XVI's finance minister. The financial wizardry that he possessed led to him being hailed as a hero in a France on the verge of revolution. However, that wizardry was, sadly for him, limited to financial matters. He was, again sadly for him, eventually called on to be more than a numbers guy. King Louis needed a stateman, and Necker was not a statesman. His dismissal from his job on July 11th, 1789, led to widespread public angry, and the King was forced to recall him to his position. Alas, no manner of financial genius could save France from the road to ruin, and the revolution broke out three days later. M. Necker stayed in office till 1790, but he was unable to regain his magic touch, and resigned with his reputation in ruins. His other claim to fame is not too shabby either he was the father of Madame de Stael, who grew up to be a fairly famous author in her own right. So for at least trying to save France from the ruin of revolution, and for being a central character in a lot of those, now largely forgotten, graduate studies of mine, Jacques Necker (September 30th, 1732- April 9th, 1804 at the age of 71), you are my hero of the day.
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