Jean Laborde
Jean Laborde (born October 16, 1805 in Auch , Gascogne, † December 27, 1878 in Madagascar ) was a French adventurer and entrepreneur who came to wealth and political influence in Madagascar.
Life
The son of a blacksmith traveled to India when he was around 20 years old, where he achieved some prosperity as a skilled craftsman. Probably out of a thirst for adventure, he sailed with a French captain in the direction of Madagascar in 1831, where they wanted to unearth a hidden treasure on the island of Juan de Nova in the Mozambique Strait. He lost all his belongings in a shipwreck off the coast of Madagascar, but was able to save himself on land.
On the initiative of the Madagascar-based plantation owner and trader Napoléon de Lastelle, who had excellent connections to the then 42-year-old Queen Ranavalona I , he received a contract for the manufacture of army rifles. He was soon one of the favorites of the court, the voices never falling silent, which wanted to know of a closer than a purely business connection between the queen and him.
From around 1837 onwards, Laborde built his industrial-style workshop complex , which he called Soatsinamampiovana , near Mantasoa , in which a wide variety of goods were produced, from cannons to hand-washing soap.
In 1857 he was persuaded by Joseph-François Lambert to take part in a plot aimed at removing the aging queen, who ruled with cruel hands, in favor of her son Rakotond'Radama. After the attempted coup was uncovered, he was the last remaining European to be expelled from the country's island.
After the death of Ranavalona I, he returned to Madagascar as French consul general in 1861, where he died in 1878.
The chameleon species Furcifer labordi was named in his honor.
literature
- Wolf Cultivator: The border of my rice field is the sea. Maonjana's records from Madagascar in the early 19th century. A historical narrative. Jerry Bedu-Addo Books on African Studies, Schriesheim 1998, ISBN 3-927198-15-3 (story with bibliography, works named there are the main source of this article).
- Roland Barraux, Andriamampionona Razafindramboa: Jean Laborde. Un Gascon à Madagascar. 1805-1878. L'Harmattan, Paris et al. 2004, ISBN 12-475-6956-X .
- J. Chauvín: Jean Laborde. 1805–1878 (= Mémoires de l'Académie malgache. Vol. 29, ISSN 0374-9002 ). Pitot de la Beaujardière, Tananarive 1939.
- Eugène David-Bernard: Ramose. Ou, la vie aventureuse de Jean Laborde (1805–1878) (= Bibliothèque de L'Institut Maritime et Colonial ). Le Liseron, Paris 1946.
- Patrick Ribot: Jean Laborde. Un illustrious méconnu. Une histoire de Madagascar, 1805-1878. Éditions Orphie, Saint-Denis 2005, ISBN 2-87763-296-2 (historical novel).
Web links
- Biography with pictures (french)
- Laborde and Madagascar blog (French)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Laborde, Jean |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | French adventurer and entrepreneur |
| DATE OF BIRTH | October 16, 1805 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Also , Gascony |
| DATE OF DEATH | December 27, 1878 |
| Place of death | Madagascar |