Colbert French Finance Minister
Jean-Baptiste Colbert, born in 1619, was not merely a finance minister; he was the architect of France’s economic revitalization under King Louis XIV. Ascending to the position of Controller-General of Finances in 1665, Colbert inherited a treasury depleted by wars and mismanagement. His immediate challenge was to stabilize the French economy and secure the financial foundation necessary for Louis XIV’s ambitious projects, including lavish court life at Versailles and expansionist military campaigns.