| ca.
1655 |
Born in Toulouse, France, son of a French peasant. As the foster brother of his feudal lord, he receives a good rudimentary education |
| 1670 |
At about 15 years of age is placed in a commercial house as a clerk. He soon develops an aptitude for mercantile affairs and in time becomes to be one of the richest merchants in France. Crozat marries Marguerite Legendre. Their four children do well: Marie Anne marries the comte d'Evrecix; Louis-François inherits his father's title; Joseph Antoine becomes the marquis de Thugny and Louis Antoine is the baron of Thiers. By loaning money to the government Crozat wins the favor of Louis XIV and is made Marquis de Chatel, the Councilor to King Louis XIV and secretary of the king's household. He invests in the Guinea Company and the Asiento Company, two lucrative overseas franchises. |
| 1712 |
Income from his investments lead Crozat to accept the king's offer of a 15-year trade monopoly in Louisiana. |
| 1717 |
The inability to find precious metals and conflicts within the colonial government force Crozat to surrender his monoploy. |
| 1738 June 7 |
Crozat dies in Paris. |