TURGOT

the great statesman and financier, was bom in 1727, and in 1761 was made Intendant of Limoges, where he made a conscientious and brilliant effort to improve the country, and to rule with justice. Louis XVI. appointed him Comptroller-General of Finance,. and he at once entered on a great scheme of reform, especially trying to distribute more fairly the burden of taxation, from which the privileged cla es were practically exempt. He also established free trade - in grain throughout the kingdom. But all those whose selfish interests were thus imperilled combined against him, and Louis was too weak to resist such pre ure. Turgot was dismi ed in 1776, and France drifted rapidly into the cataclysm of 1789.