Antoine Crozat

Antoine Crozat, marquis du Châtel, French founder of an immense fortune, was the first private proprietary owner of French Louisiana from 1712 to 1717. Born in Toulouse, France the sons of peasants, he and his brother, Pierre, rose from obscurity to become two of the wealthiest merchants of France. By lending money to the government Antoine was ennobled as the marquis du Châtel, a noble title that he transmitted to his elder son Louis-François. He became a financial counsellor to Louis XIV. He invested in the Guinea Company and the Asiento Company, two lucrative overseas franchises. The king eventually offered him a 15‑year trade monopoly in Louisiana.

He married Marguerite Legendre. They had four children: Marie Anne, Louis François, marquis du Châtel, Joseph Antoine, marquis de Thugny and Louis Antoine, baron de Thiers. Antoine Crozat died on 7 June 1738.