Note: This work is the result from a research assignment given to University of Maryland undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Dr. Sarah Benharrech’s course “Riots, Rebellions and Revolutions,” taught in Fall 2015. Learn more.
Le marquis Marie-Charles du Chilleau, né en 1734 en France,[1] était gouverneur-général de Saint-Domingue entre 1788 et 1794[2]. D’abord officier de l’armée française, il a combattu en Allemagne pendant la Guerre de Sept Ans où il est rapidement devenu maréchal de camp.[3] Le ministre de la Marine, César-Henri de la Luzerne, le nomme au poste de gouverneur-général de Saint-Domingue en 1788.[4] Le 31 Mars, 1789, Du Chilleau propose une ordonnance concernant l’importation de farines étrangères dans les ports de la partie française de l’île de Saint-Domingue pour remédier à la pénurie des farines dans l’île.[5] Du Chilleau correspond avec Barbé-Marbois, administrateur influent de Saint-Domingue, au sujet de cette ordonnance pour le convaincre que son ordonnance était une décision purement administrative.[6] Cependant, son projet de libéraliser le commerce n’obtient ni l’assentiment de Marbois ni celui du Roi.[7] Le Conseil d’État du Roi ne soutient pas Du Chilleau[8] au motif que l’importation de farines de l’étranger se ferait aux dépens du commerce intérieur français. Malgré le rejet du gouvernement, Du Chilleau fait ouvrir trois ports au commerce étranger pendant 5 ans et autorise l’achat de produits américains.[9] Pour avoir défié l’autorité du roi, il doit rentrer en France où il est ensuite accusé d’avoir voulu détruire l’économie française.[10] A son débarquement en 1789, il est emprisonné à Nantes où il est mort en 1794.[11]
Marie-Charles Du Chilleau, born in 1734,[1] was the General Governor of Saint Domingue from 1788 to 1794.[2] Previously an officer in the French army, he fought in Germany during the Seven Years War where he quickly became the Maréchal de Camp.[3] The French naval minister, César-Henri de la Luzerne, nominated him, in 1788, for the post of general governor of Saint Domingue.[4] On March 31, 1789, Du Chilleau proposed an order concerning the introduction of foreign grains entering the French controlled ports of Saint-Domingue to address the grain shortage on the island.[5] He corresponded with Barbé-Marbois, an influential administrator in Saint-Domingue, to convince him that the order was a simple administrative act.[6] However, the liberalization of trade did not gain traction with Barbé-Marbois.[7] For the reason the France would not benefit from the order to introduce foreign grains into the French ports, the State Council to the King did not support Du Chilleau’s initiative.[8] Despite the decision of the King, he opened three ports for foreign trade for five years, and, by a decree, authorized the purchase of American products.[9] Due to his defiance, he was forced to return to France where he was accused of destroying the French economy.[10] When he arrived in 1789, he was imprisoned in Nantes and died in 1794.[11]
Author: Alexandra Gabitzer
References
[1] “Du Chilleau, Marie Charles, Marquis, 1734-1794,” Library of Congress, http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr2004029034.
[2] “Copy of the Report Presented to the King by M. Le Comte de La Luzerne and Approved by His Majesty, March 7, 1788,” A Colony in Crisis: The Saint-Domingue Grain Shortage of 1789, https://colonyincrisis.lib.umd.edu/1788/03/07/report-presented-to-the-king-by-luzerne/.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] “Ordinance Concerning the Introduction of Foreign Grain in the Warehouse Ports of the French Section of the Island of Saint-Domingue,” A Colony in Crisis: The Saint-Domingue Grain Shortage of 1789, https://colonyincrisis.lib.umd.edu/1789/05/27/ordinance-concerning-the-introduction-of-foreign-grain-to-the-island-of-saint-domingue/.
[6] “Copy of the Letter from M. Le Marquis Du Chilleau to M. de Marbois, Dating from March 29, 1789. Item A and Response from M. de Marbois from the Same Day. Item B.,” A Colony in Crisis: The Saint-Domingue Grain Shortage of 1789, https://colonyincrisis.lib.umd.edu/1789/03/29/letters-between-chilleau-and-marbois/.
[7] Ibid.
[8] “Judgment from the State Council of the King, Granting Appeal of an Ordinance from M. Le Marquis de Chilleau, Governor, Lieutenant General of Saint-Domingue, from the 27th of Last May Concerning the Introduction of Foreign Grain,” A Colony in Crisis: The Saint-Domingue Grain Shortage of 1789, https://colonyincrisis.lib.umd.edu/1789/07/23/judgment-from-the-king-granting-appeal-of-an-ordinance-from-chilleau-of-saint-domingue/.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Nicolas-Robert marquis de Cocherel and Marie Charles marquis Du Chilleau, Réplique de M. de Cocherel, député de St.-Domingue, aux inculpations du commerce contre M. le marquis Du Chilleau (Versailles, 1789), https://archive.org/details/rpliquedemdeco00coch.
[11] “Du Chilleau, Marie Charles, Marquis, 1734-1794.”
A Colony in Crisis: The Saint-Domingue Grain Shortage of 1789 