Francois De Barbe-Marbois, count and marquis, a French statesman, born at Metz, Jan. 31, 1745, died Jan. 14, 1837. After filling diplomatic offices at several German courts, he was sent to the new government of the United States of America as consul general of France. He organized all the French consulates in this country, and during his residence here married the daughter of William Moore, governor of Pennsylvania. In 1785 he was appointed by Louis XVI. intendant of St. Domingo, and introduced many reforms in the administration of justice and of finance. He returned to France in 1790, and, having vindicated himself from various accusations, was again employed in German diplomacy. In 1795 he was elected a member of the council of elders, but was soon charged with a variety of offences, and, though he defended himself with spirit, was in 1797 exiled to Guiana as a friend of royalty. He was recalled in 1801 and made director of the treasury, a title which he soon exchanged for that of minister of finance. In 1803 he was authorized to cede Louisiana to the United States for 50,000,000 fr., but had the skill to obtain 75,000,000 fr., a piece of diplomacy for which he was liberally rewarded by Napoleon. He was soon after made count of the empire and chief officer of the legion of honor.

In 1806 a sudden decline in the funds caused by a blunder in his administration brought about his disgrace, which was however speedily ended by Napoleon, who recognized and needed his ability. In 1813 he entered the senate, and the next year voted for the deposition of the emperor and the reestablish-ment of the Bourbon dynasty. He was well received by Louis XVIII., appointed a peer of France and honorary counsellor of the university, and confirmed in the office of first president of the court of accounts, which he had formerly held. Napoleon after his return from Elba ordered him to leave Paris. He resumed his offices on the return of the Bourbons. After the revolution of July he took the oath of fidelity to Louis Philippe. He wrote Reflexions sur la colonie de Saint-Domingue (1796); Corn-plot d'Arnold et de Sir Henry Clinton contre les Etats- Unis d' Amerique et contre le General Washington (Paris, 1816); De la Guyane (1822); Lettres de Madame la Marquise de Pompadour, with a memoir (1811); Histoire de la Louisiane et de la cession de cette colonie par la France aux Etats-Unis (1828); and various other works.