John Law : Biographie, Réalisations et Héritage Durable

Born in Scotland, Law was an accomplished gambler with an interest in the rules of probability. After killing a man in a duel and being sentenced to death, he fled to mainland Europe. He read economics and made the acquaintance of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, who became regent for the juvenile Louis XV in 1715. In 1716 Philippe approved Law's plan to create a private bank which would take gold deposits in return for bank notes, loaning out the gold. It was structured as a joint-stock company and was bought by the French government in 1718, becoming the Banque royale. In 1717 Law founded another joint-stock company, the Mississippi company, whose purpose was the economic exploitation of Louisiana as well as other French colonies. Law became Controller General of Finances in 1720 and was the richest man in Europe. He had to leave France that same year, as a stock boom turned into a bust. He then lived in various European cities and died in Venice, impoverished.

Vie et carrière

Faits clés

• Born: April 21, 1671 in Edinburgh, Scotland
• Décès : 1729
• Domaine : Literature

Héritage et influence

The influence of John Law extends far beyond his own lifetime. He fundamentally shaped literature and the written word, and his written works and literary innovations remain foundational to this day.

Though he passed away in 1729, his ideas continue to be studied, debated, and built upon by scholars and practitioners worldwide.

John Law demeure l'un des esprits les plus célèbres issus de Scotland, témoignage du riche héritage intellectuel de la région.

Génies notables de Scotland

Scotland a donné naissance à de nombreux esprits remarquables. Aux côtés de John Law :

Voir tous les génies de Scotland →

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