The Man Who Sold Louisiana. By E. Wilson Lyon.
Norman: The University of Oklahoma Press, 1942. Pp. xix, 240.
Illustrations. $2.75.
This is the somewhat intriguing title of a factual biography
of Francois Barbe-Marbois, born 1745, died 1837. As a young
man, he served ten years in minor diplomatic capacities in
Saxony and Bavaria. In 1778 he came to the United States as
secretary to the French chargé
d'affaires
and succeeded to
that office, in which he served until 1785. He was an able
and intelligent official and was universally liked by leading
American officials with whom he came into contact. From 1785
to 1789 he was the intendant of Haiti, the office being a sort of
combination of minister of finance and interior. He returned
to France at the end of 1789, was appointed by Louis XVI
minister to Austria, but retired to private life after the fall
of the monarchy. In 1797 he was banished by the Directory
to French Guiana, but was released in 1799. Again in France,
he served Napoleon faithfully until his fall, after which he
served equally faithfully the restored Bourbon kings, and man-
aged to survive officially the revolution of 1830 and serve Louis
Philippe. During the many changes following the rise of Na-
poleon his work was chiefly in the realm of public finance.
In spite of his success in holding office, Barbe-Marbois was
not a supple courtier. He certainly retained his own self-
respect, and he holds the respect of students who read this
book. The writer seems to have a comprehensive knowledge
of pertinent bibliography and to have used everything that is
material to his subject. The book is written in straightforward
English and with commendable brevity--commendable because
an interesting book of twice the length might have been written
from the material at the author's finger tips.
The University of Texas.
Eugene C. Barker.
How to cite:
"Man Who Sold Louisiana", Volume 46, Number 2, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v046/n2/review_DIVL2605.html
[Accessed Tue Nov 24 1:12:47 CST 2009]
