Pierre-Paul Le Mercier de La Rivière (10 March 1719 – 27 November 1801) was a French colonial administrator and

physiocrat Physiocracy (; from the Greek for "government of nature") is an economic theory developed by a group of 18th-century Age of Enlightenment French economists who believed that the wealth of nations derived solely from the value of "land agricultur ...

economist. Mercier was a councilor at the

Parliament of Paris The Parliament of Paris (french: Parlement de Paris) was the oldest ''parlement'' in the Kingdom of France, formed in the 14th century. It was fixed in Paris by Philip IV of France in 1302. The Parliament of Paris would hold sessions inside the ...

, intendant at

Martinique Martinique ( , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic, Martinique is located in th ...

in the West Indies (1759-1764), and noted advocate of Physiocracy. In 1774, Mercier wrote a letter to Benjamin Franklin proposing to purchase 5,000 tons of Philadelphia flour. He was born at

Saumur Saumur () is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France. The town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc.. Saumur statio ...

, (

Maine-et-Loire Maine-et-Loire () is a department in the Loire Valley in the Pays de la Loire region in Western France. It is named after the two rivers, Maine and the Loire. It borders Mayenne and Sarthe to the north, Loire-Atlantique to the west, Indre-e ...

) and died in 1801 in

Grigny, Essonne Grigny () is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. Population Transportation Grigny is served by Grigny-Centre station on Paris RER line D. Avenue des Sablons The Avenue des Sablons, ...

Archives départementales de l'Essonne, État-civil numérisé
, Commune Grigny, Essonne, NMD an V-an X, vue 6, acte du 7

frimaire Frimaire () was the third month in the French Republican Calendar. The month was named after the French word ''frimas'', which means ''frost''. Frimaire was the third month of the autumn quarter (''mois d'automne''). It started between 21 Novem ...

an X.

References

1719 births 1801 deaths French colonial governors and administrators People from Saumur Ancien Régime office-holders Physiocrats 18th-century French economists {{France-academic-bio-stub