Achille Fould, a French statesman and financier, of Jewish parentage, horn at Paris, Nov. 17, 1800, died at Tarbes, Oct. 5, 1807. His father was a hanker of great wealth, and he enjoyed an unusually careful and elaborate education, which was completed by extensive travel in Europe and the East. He entered prominently into political life in 1842, when he was chosen to represent Tarbes in the chamber of deputies. In that body he at once took a high rank as an economist and financier, and confined himself almost entirely to this department of political action. Under the presidency of Louis Napoleon he was made minister of finance, and although disagreements with the president caused him twice to retire from the office, he was each time reappointed. On the establishment of the empire, Napoleon made him a senator, and shortly afterward appointed him minister of state and of the imperial household. To him were intrusted the management and preparation of the universal exhibition of 1855, and the direction of the works on the new portion of the Louvre (1853-'7). On Nov. 12, 1861, he was again made minister of finance, and held office until January, 1867, when he resigned in consequence of the imperial decree of the 19th of that month, making important changes in the administration of the government.

He was the author of several pamphlets on financial questions.