Fould, Achille

STATESMAN, BANKER (FRANCE)
BORN 17 Nov 1800, Paris - DIED 5 Oct 1867, Tarbes, Hautes-Pyrénées
GRAVE LOCATION Paris: Père Lachaise, Rue du Repos 16 (division 04, ligne 01, AC, 16)

Achille Foulf was the son of a Jewish banker. Together with his brother Benoït he managed the bank Fould-Oppenheim & Comp. King. Louis Philippe frequently consulted him on financial matters. In 1842 he became a deputy for Hautes-Pyrénées.

Under Louis Napoleon Bonaparte he was four times minister of finance. He left his post after the property of the Orléans family was confiscated. But after he was appointed senator he returned into the government in 1852, now as minister of state and the imperial household. In 1857 he became a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts.

In 1860 he gave up his post in the government, but in 1861 he became minister of finance once more. During this term he managed to reduce the debts resulting from the Mexican war. In January, 1867 he left his post and he died in October of the same year.

Related persons
• was adviser of Napoleon III Bonaparte
• was the lover of Walters, Catherine 'Skittles'

Events
31/10/1849Louis Napoleon Bonaparte suddenly dismisses the government. There had been several arguments between him and the government but his decision was unexpected. He stated that the government should cooperate with the president that was chosen by the people and that it should accept his leadership. He nominated no successor for prime minister Odilin Barrot. General d'Hautpoul became Minister of War, Ferdinand Barrot became Minister of Internal Affairs and Achille Fould was the new Minister of Finance. Most of the press criticized his action, but Le Constitutionel stated that he did not have the support of the press, but he did have the support of the people. [Hautpoul, Alphonse Henri, comte d'][Napoleon III Bonaparte]

Images

The grave of Achille Fould at Père Lachaise, Paris.
Picture by Androom (19 Nov 2006)

 

Sources
• Ridley, Jasper, Napoleon III and Eugénie, Constable, London, 1979
Winkler Prins Encyclopedie (editie 1909), 1909


Fourès, Pauline

Published: 03 Dec 2006
Last update: 05 Nov 2022