Jean-Baptiste Colbert (29 August 1619 – 6 September 1683) serves as the French minister of finance from 1665 to 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV.
His relentless hard work and thrift make him an esteemed minister.
He achieves a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing and bringing the economy back from the brink of bankruptcy.
Historians note that, despite Colbert's efforts, France actually became increasingly impoverished because of the King's excessive spending on wars.
Colbert works to create a favorable balance of trade and increase France's colonial holdings.
Historians of mercantilism consider Colbert a key figure.
Colbert's plan is to build a general academy.
Colbert's market reforms include the foundation of the Manufacture royale de glaces de miroirs in 1665 to supplant the importation of Venetian glass (forbidden in 1672, as soon as French glass manufacture was on a sound basis) and to encourage the technical expertise of Flemish cloth manufacturing in France.
He also founds royal tapestry works at Gobelins and supports those at Beauvais.
Colbert works to improve the economy via tariffs and the construction of internal improvements.
In regard to foreign markets, Colbert aims to ensure that the French East India Company can obtain coffee, cotton, dyewoods, fur, pepper, and sugar.
In addition, Colbert founds a French merchant marine.
Colbert issues more than 150 edicts to regulate the guilds.
One such law has the intention of improving the quality of cloth.
The edict declares that if the authorities find a merchant's cloth unsatisfactory on three separate occasions, they are to tie him to a post with the cloth attached to him.
