Calonne

Calonne, CHARLES ALEXANDRE DE, Controller-general of Finance in France under Louis XVI., was born at Douay in 1734. He studied law, and having filled successively various offices, was made in 1783 Controller-general of the Treasury. In this capacity he soon gained favour among the courtiers, who had complained of the parsimony of Turgot and Necker. His plan was a simple one; he generously showered on the courtiers and people of influence sums which he obtained by borrowing and increased taxation. This could only last for a time; embarrassments grew on him till the inevitable crisis came; and in 1786, when the people could bear the extraordinary taxation no longer, Calonne advised the king to convocate the Assembly of the Notables, and proposed to abolish many of the privileges of the nobles, such as their exemption from taxes, and to distribute the burden of taxation more equally. The people and the aristocracy demanded a convocation of the States-general, instead of the Assembly of the Notables; but Calonne boldly proceeded with his plan, opened the Assembly of the Notables in 1787, and in a pleasant and florid oration described the general prosperity of French industry and commerce, and brought his speech to a climax by confessing that the annual deficit of the treasury had risen to 115 millions of francs, and that during the time from 1776 to 1786 the government had borrowed no less a sum than about 1250 millions! The Notables, instead of proceeding with Calonne's plan of re-organisation, demanded from him a statement of accounts. Not being able to give this satisfactorily, he was stripped of his dignities and banished to Lorraine. After this, Calonne resided chiefly in England, until in 1802 he obtained from Bonaparte permission to return to France, where, on 30th October, he died in very embarrassed circumstances.