Charles de Montigny
Encyclopedia
Louis Charles de Montigny (1805–1868) was a French diplomat who was active in Asia during the 19th century.
He was the first French consul in Shanghai
from January 23, 1848 to June 10, 1853. He founded the Shanghai French Concession
in 1849.
In 1856, de Montigny was sent as a French envoy to King Mongkut
of Thailand
. A treaty was signed on August 15, 1856 to facilitate trade, guarantee religious freedom, and allow the access of French warships to Bangkok
.
From Thailand, de Montigny visited Vietnam in 1857 to demand the establishment of a consulate in Huế
, freedom to trade and to preach, and an end to persecution against Catholics. However, the Vietnamese court rejected all of his demands. When Montigny's mission failed, Napoleon III decided to dispatch a military force of 3,000 to Vietnam, leading to the capture of Da Nang
by Rigault de Genouilly on September 1, 1858.
Charles de Montigny served again as President of the Municipal Council in Shanghai from May 1, 1862. From 1863 to 1868, he was French Consul in Tientsin, where he died in 1868.
He was the first French consul in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
from January 23, 1848 to June 10, 1853. He founded the Shanghai French Concession
Shanghai French Concession
The Shanghai French Concession was a foreign concession in Shanghai, China from 1849 until 1946, and it was progressively expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The concession came to an end in practice in 1943 when the Vichy French government signed it over to the pro-Japanese puppet...
in 1849.
In 1856, de Montigny was sent as a French envoy to King Mongkut
Mongkut
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama IV, known in foreign countries as King Mongkut , was the fourth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851-1868...
of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. A treaty was signed on August 15, 1856 to facilitate trade, guarantee religious freedom, and allow the access of French warships to Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
.
From Thailand, de Montigny visited Vietnam in 1857 to demand the establishment of a consulate in Huế
Hue
Hue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"...
, freedom to trade and to preach, and an end to persecution against Catholics. However, the Vietnamese court rejected all of his demands. When Montigny's mission failed, Napoleon III decided to dispatch a military force of 3,000 to Vietnam, leading to the capture of Da Nang
Da Nang
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
by Rigault de Genouilly on September 1, 1858.
Charles de Montigny served again as President of the Municipal Council in Shanghai from May 1, 1862. From 1863 to 1868, he was French Consul in Tientsin, where he died in 1868.