Jean Law de Lauriston

"Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2007 May 18Baron Jean Law de Lauriston, was born on October 5 1719 in Paris. He was twice Governor General of Pondicherry. Not much is known about his life, but his contributions to French Colonial Empire are notable.

In 1765

When in 1765 the town of Pondicherry was returned to France after a peace treaty with England, Pondicherry was in ruins. Jean Law de Lauriston, then Governor General set to rebuild the town on the old foundations and after five months 200 European and 2000 Tamil houses had been erected.

Transfer of Yanaon

Another significant event is re-transfer of Yanaon to the French during his time. A document dated 15 May 1765 showed that the villages of Yanam and Kapulapalem with other lands were handed over by Jean White hill and George Dolben, the English men deputed by Mr. Jean Pybus, the head of the English settlement in Masulipatam to Mr. Yoan Yacques Panon, French Commissioner deputed by Jean Law de Lauriston when he was Governor General of Pondicherry, for taking them over. This document mentions that France entered into possession of Yanam and its dependent territories with exemption from all export and import duties.

Memoire of 1767

Jean Law de Lauriston wrote "Mémoires sur quelques affaires de l’Empire Mogol 1756-1761" which can be found in "Libraires de la Société de l'histoire des colonies françaises" Paris.

He stated in his "Memoire of 1767" as “It is from Yanam that we get out best ‘guiness’ (fine cloth). It is possible to have a commerce here worth more than a million "livres" per year under circumstances more favorable than those in which we are placed now, but always by giving advances much earlier, which we have never been in a position to do. From this place we also procured teakwood, oils rice and other grains both for the men as well as for the animals. A port from commerce, Yanam enjoyed another kind of importance. The advantages which may be derived in a time of war from the alliances that we the French may conclude with several Rajas who sooner or later cannot fail to be dissatisfied with the English. Although the English gained an effective control over the Circars, Yanam enabled the French to enter into secret relations with the local chieftains. Yanam had some commercial importance”.

Death

He died in Paris on July 16 1797. He was one of the noblest Governor Generals Pondicherry ever had. There is a street named after him in Pondichéry.

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