Pierre Gilbert Le Roy, Baron d'Allarde (9 August 1748 – 9 September 1809) was a French politician and legislator known for his contributions to economic liberalization during the French Revolution.

Early life

Pierre Gilbert Le Roy was born into a noble family in Montluçon. As a young man he pursued a military career and became a captain in the Chasseurs de Franche-Comté regiment.

Political career

In 1789 d'Allarde was elected as a deputy representing the nobility of the

bailliage A bailiwick () is usually the area of jurisdiction of a bailiff, and once also applied to territories in which a privately appointed bailiff exercised the sheriff's functions under a royal or imperial writ. In English, the original French combi ...

Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier () is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France. It was besieged during the Hundred Years' War. Located between the Loire and Allier, the town has a rich and powerful history, but is a little forgotten to ...

during the Estates-General. Despite his military background, he focused predominantly on financial and economic issues. He opposed the physiocratic theories of

Jacques Necker Jacques Necker (; 30 September 1732 – 9 April 1804) was a Republic of Geneva, Genevan banker and statesman who served as List of Finance Ministers of France, finance minister for Louis XVI of France, Louis XVI. He was a reformer, but his innov ...

and

Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours ( , ; 14 December 1739 – 7 August 1817) was a French-American writer, economist, publisher and government official. During the French Revolution, he, his two sons and their families migrated to the United ...

. D'Allarde gained prominence in 1791 by introducing a decree requiring accountability for the collection of taxes known as ''décimes''. That same year, he also proposed the introduction of patent taxes. His most notable achievement was the drafting and adoption of the '' Allarde Decree'' ( 2 and 17 March 1791). The decree abolished guilds and their privileges, thereby promoting freedom of trade and industry. This decree is considered a pivotal moment for economic liberalization in France, later complemented by the

Le Chapelier Law The ''Le Chapelier Law'' () was a piece of legislation passed by the National Assembly during the first phase of the French Revolution (14 June 1791), banning guilds as the early version of trade unions (in reality the guilds were compulsory cart ...

Post-Revolution activities

After the dissolution of the National Constituent Assembly d'Allarde retired from politics and ventured into commerce. Following the

18 Brumaire coup The Coup of 18 Brumaire () brought Napoleon Bonaparte to power as First Consul of the French First Republic. In the view of most historians, it ended the French Revolution and would soon lead to the coronation of Napoleon as Emperor of the Fre ...

, he became the manager of the

octroi Octroi (; , to grant, authorize; Lat. ''auctor'') is a local tax collected on various articles brought into a district for consumption. Antiquity The word itself is of French origin. Octroi taxes have a respectable antiquity, being known in R ...

(municipal tax administration) of Paris. However, his commercial endeavors ended in bankruptcy in 1803. D'Allarde withdrew to his estates in

Franche-Comté Franche-Comté (, ; ; Frainc-Comtou dialect, Frainc-Comtou: ''Fraintche-Comtè''; ; also ; ; all ) is a cultural and Provinces of France, historical region of eastern France. It is composed of the modern departments of France, departments of Doub ...

and lived a quiet life until his death in

Besançon Besançon (, ; , ; archaic ; ) is the capital of the Departments of France, department of Doubs in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The city is located in Eastern France, close to the Jura Mountains and the border with Switzerland. Capi ...

in 1809.

References

* Soboul, Albert. ''Dictionnaire historique de la Révolution française''. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1989, p. 15.
Biography
– French National Assembly {{DEFAULTSORT:Allarde, Pierre d' 1748 births 1809 deaths People of the French Revolution 18th-century French politicians 18th-century French nobility People from Montluçon