Jean-Baptiste-Gaspard Roux de Rochelle

Jean-Baptiste-Gaspard Roux de Rochelle came to diplomacy through a varied early career as a cleric, army officer, and librarian in the Jura. He entered the foreign ministry in 1796, worked for Talleyrand, and rose to head a division before representing France at Hamburg. His work also made him a geographer and historical writer, with the Société de géographie naming him secretary general in 1825. ¹

In Washington he pursued a concrete dispute over the treatment of French commerce. His letters of 31 July 1830 and 10 January 1831 challenged the additional duties imposed at Pensacola on the cargo of the Pactole. He argued that the Franco-American commercial convention of 1822 governed the charges and requested repayment. American officials, by contrast, cited the special privileges Spain retained in Florida after its cession to the United States. ²

Roux de Rochelle’s writing ranged from poetry to geographical and historical surveys. His publications included an edition of Marco Polo’s travels, works on the United States, a history of the Champagne regiment, and studies of the Hanseatic towns and Italy. He maintained ties to learned societies in the Jura and Besançon, donated geographical publications, and left manuscripts and correspondence as well as printed books. He died in 1849. ¹