Diplomatist; born in
Metz, France, Jan. 31, 1745; was tutor to the children of
Castries, the
French minister of marine, through whose influence he obtained (1779) the appointment to the post of secretary of legation to the
United States during the Revolution.
By his learning and talents he became the principal agent in the most important operations of the embassy while
Luzerne was minister.
After the return of the latter
Marbois remained as charge d'affaires, and resided in
America until 1785, arranging all the
French consulates.
He was afterwards appointed Intendant of
Santo Domingo, and returned to
France in 1790, when he was sent as ambassador to the
German Diet.
Having offended the ruling party in the course of the fierce
French Revolution, he was condemned to exile at
Cayenne.
On his return,
Bonaparte, then First Consul, nominated him as the first councillor of state, and in 1801 he was made secretary of the treasury.
He successfully negotiated the sale of
Louisiana to the
United States in 1803.
He served in conspicuous posts in civil life, and was among the first of the senators who voted for the deposition of Napoleon in 1814.
Louis XVIII.
created him peer and made him keeper of the seals in 1815.
Soon after that he was created a marquis.
On Napoleon's return from
Elba,
Marbois was ordered to quit
Paris.
After the revolution of July, 1830, he took the oath of allegiance to
Louis Philippe.
He died in
Paris, Jan. 14, 1837.
