Editing Jean-Baptiste Colbert (section)

===Early life===
Colbert's father and grandfather were merchants in his birthplace of [[Reims]], [[France]]. He claimed to have Scottish ancestry. A widespread (but unconfirmed) belief exists that he spent his early youth at a [[Jesuit]]  college, working for a Parisian banker; as well as working for the father of [[Jean Chapelain]].

Before the age of 20, Colbert had a post in the war office, a position generally attributed to the marriage of an uncle to the sister of Secretary of War [[Michel Le Tellier]]. Colbert spent some time as an inspector of troops, eventually becoming the personal secretary of Le Tellier. 
In 1647, through unknown means, Colbert acquired the confiscated goods of an uncle, Pussort.  In 1648, he and his wife Marie Charron, received 40,000 crowns from an unknown source; and in 1649 Colbert became the councilor of state, i.e. a political minister.

In 1657, he purchased the [[Feudal barony|Barony]] of [[Seignelay]].