Necker, Jacques 1732-1804
French politician and financier

Born in Geneva, he went to Paris as a banker's clerk when he was 15, and in 1762 established the London and Paris bank of Thellusson and Necker. In 1776 he was made the director of the Treasury, and next year director-general of Finance. Some of his remedial measures assisted France, but his most ambitious scheme - the establishment of provincial assemblies, one of whose functions should be the apportionment of taxes - proved a disastrous failure. His retrenchments were hateful to the Queen, and his famous Compte rendu (1781, 'Financial Report') prompted his dismissal. He retired to Geneva, but was recalled to Paris in 1788, where he won popularity by recommending the summoning of the Estates General. However, his proposals for reform displeased the king and he was dismissed. His dismissal contributed to the public mood which culminated in the storming of the Bastille. The king recalled him in 1789, but he retired the following year. He was the father of Madame de Sta�l.