Jean-Baptiste Colbert de Torcy

Biography

Wire of Charles Colbert de Croissy, it receives an excellent training of diplomat to take again the load of Secretary of State to the Foreign affairs occupied by his father of which it is made “reversioner” (successor) in 1689.

Named secretary of foreign affairs in 1696, it negotiates with its mentor and father-in-law Simon Arnauld de Pomponne the Traité of Ryswick of 1697. In 1699, it succeeds Pomponne like Surintendant of the stations. In 1700, it becomes Minister of state.

It then negotiates the will of the king Charles II of Spain which offers the Spanish crown to the grandson of Louis XIV, the duke of Anjou, future Philippe V of Spain. In the disastrous war which occurs then, it is one of the inspirers of the call to the “national start” launched by Louis XIV in 1709. In 1714 and 1715, it as well as possible negotiates the Traité of Utrecht and the Traité of Rastatt, which mark the loss of French preeminence in Europe.

It creates a school of formation for the future diplomats in 1712. With died of Louis XIV in 1715, it must give up the Foreign affairs and preserves only the superintendence of the stations, until in 1723.

In 1715, with Sablé-sur-Sarthe, Colbert de Torcy makes build the current castle of the city. He is in parallel worried royal College, frame in 1604 in the street of the Island on authorization of the king Henri IV, intended for the instruction of the poor children.

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