Martin Garat, the tenth of thirteen children, earned his living at fourteen and came up to Paris with no support but his abilities. A banker, he was among those who created the Banque de France in 1800, and he was its inaugural Governor for twenty years. He is sometimes confused with his elder brother, the minister who came to announce to the king his death sentence. What is carved is too worn to name him.
The story
The tenth of thirteen children of Pierre Garat and Marie Darrigol, he was earning his living at fourteen. Born at Bayonne on 12 December 1748, Martin Garat went up to Paris on the strength of his abilities alone.
Having become a banker, he took part in 1800 in the founding of the Bank of France and became its very first director general — a post he held for thirty years, until his death. The institution still exists, and his is the first name in it.
He should not be confused with his elder brother Dominique-Joseph Garat, minister of justice, who announced his sentence to Louis XVI. He died in 1830.
The stone is too worn to name him. What is left is “[…] de GARRAT, comtesse […]”, with two Rs, and the end of a sentence: “à celles qui attendent au ciel.” The first director general of the Bank of France lies a few alleys from James de Rothschild, with nothing to say so.
The grave
The very first governor of the Banque de France, in office from 1800 to 1820, lies in Division 7, chemin Marjolin — a few paths from James de Rothschild. Nothing indicates that this man, the tenth of thirteen children of a Bayonne family, was earning his living at fourteen before presiding over the birth of France's monetary institution.
On site, do not miss
The first governor of the Banque de France lies in Division 7, chemin Marjolin — a few paths from James de Rothschild.
Visitors' questions
Where is Martin Garat's grave?
In Division 7, chemin Marjolin, third row — the Division of Héloïse and Abelard, of Pissarro and of James de Rothschild, another great name of nineteenth-century banking.
James de RothschildDid he found the Bank of France?
He had a hand in it, in 1800, and he was its very first director-general — a post he held for thirty years, until his death in 1830. The institution is still there, and his is the first name on its list.
Jean-Baptiste SayWhere did he come from?
From Bayonne, where he was born in 1748, the tenth of thirteen children of Pierre Garat and Marie Darrigol. He began earning his living at fourteen; it was his abilities that took him up to Paris.
Alphonse LavalléeShould he be confused with the other Garat?
No: Dominique-Joseph Garat (1749-1833), the Minister of Justice — the man who told Louis XVI he was to die — was his elder brother. Two different men, often taken for one.
André Joseph AbrialAudio guide to Père Lachaise: the best unusual guided tour!
Discover the secrets of the most astonishing tombs
the audio guidefrom€6.99