NECKER, niVkile, .1.ttqtEs (1732-1801). A French statesman and financier. lie was horn September 30, 1732. at Geneva, where his father was professor of public law. In 1747 Necker went to Paris and entered a banking house, where he served his apprenticeship in finance. In 1762 he established a banking business of his own in Paris and acquired a large fortune dur ing the Seven Years' \Var. After retiring from business he became the representative of Geneva at the French Court and also a syndic of the French East India Company. He likewise began his career as a writer, and in 1773 gained the prize at the French Academy by his clog(' on Colbert. lie acquired a further reputation by his publications on political economy and finance, particularly his Essai sue la b'yislation et lc commerce des grains (Paris, 1775). On the re moval of Turgot from office in June. 1776, Necker was called to assist in financial affairs, and after the brief administration of Chigny he was made Director-General of Finances in June. 1777. Necker succeeded in restoring to some degree of order the genera] financial affairs of the country. though mainly by the perilous expedi ent of borrowing, which he was enabled to do to an almost unlimited extent, owing to the confidence reposed in his financial dexterity. lie reformed and systematized the financial administration, made taxation more (spiita hle, and restored public confidence in the Gov ernment. This was the most brilliant period of his life, and the salon of Necker was the rendezvous for all the brilliant literary and political lights of the day. Necker's Prot estantism, however, his extraordinary vanity, and some retrenchments which he had made in the royal household, together with his publication on the financial affairs of France, Comptc rendit on mi. (1781), made him an object of great dis like to both Queen and Court, and on May 12, 17S1, he was suddenly dismissed. He retired to Geneva, and while hying in retirement on his estate of Coppet lie wrote his famous tion des finances, published in 1781. He returned
to Paris in 1787, hut was soon banished on ac count of an attack which he published on the financial policy and management of Calonne. In the financial crises which followed upon the ad ministration of Lonnemie de Brienne, Louis found himself under the necessity of calling _Necker to ilte office of Director-General of Fi nances and Minister of State. This was in the summer of 1788. and Necker recommended the eahing of the States-General. and thereby ac quired his great popularity. When the Court, on June 23. 1789, determined upon nullifying the resolutions of the Third Estate, Necker seem ingly objected and the King dismissed him on July 11th. and required him to have the French dominions. lie obeyed, but the distnrhanees of July 12th, 13th. and 14th. culminating in the storming of the Bastille, were the result of his dismissal, and the was under the necessity of reealling him. On the rejection by the Constit uent. Assembly of his scheme of a loan, and the adoption instead of it of Miraheau's scheme of a s signats, he resigned his office in September. 1790, and again retired to Coppet, where he died. April 9. 1804. Necker was able and honest, but he was a business loan rather than a statesman. Ili; (laughter was the celebrated Aladaine (le Stiiel ((I.\ .). -? complete edition of Necker's writings, edited by his grandson..1tigust de Staid-Holstein, was published in IS volumes S2.11-2 effils11 it also; Aline. (le Stai'd. Lu air i cet_ do .1/. ( Paris, !silt ) ; Nourrisson, Troia n'eohrtion Aecker it nui//1/ lb, I ssil) ; Las firvutciircs diy In rrro lrttion f ru era ise 1(.5 mmimi51vrcs (lc 'I'tt swot 4.1 fig.
.Vcckt r lib., 1S02) : Ilernrtnns, Zur tesch ichle 'a milt,. rid; r (Berlin,