Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Seignelay
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Jean-Baptiste Antoine Colbert, Marquis de Seignelay (1 November 1651 - 3 November 1690) was a French politician. He was the eldest son of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, nephew of Charles Colbert de Croissy and cousin of Jean-Baptiste Colbert de Torcy.
In 1679 Seignelay married Catherine Thérèse de Goyon de Matignon Thorigny (1662–1699). Their children included:
- Marie Jean-Baptiste Colbert de Seignelay (known as Jean-Baptiste) (1683–1712)
- Théodore Alexandre Colbert de Seignelay (known as Théodore) (1690?–1695?)
On the death of his father, Seignelay was named Navy Secretary by Louis XIV and held the post until his death. He accompanied Abraham Duquesne at the bombardment of Genoa in May 1684. He was named Minister in 1689 and that year completed the Code Noir begun by his father.
Seignelay continued his father's work of expanding the French Navy; between 1660 and 1690 the Navy increased under their control from 18 sailing vessels to some 125. While the arsenals too were reconstructed, modern studies criticise the Colberts, father and son, for concentrating on ships rather than infrastructure.
In 1675 Nicolas Boileau dedicated his ninth epistle, Nothing is beautiful but the truth, to Siegnelay and he was named Grand Treasurer of the Order of the Holy Spirit. In 1683 he inherited the Château de Sceaux, which he improved, employing the services of Jules Hardouin Mansart.
He was succeeded as Navy Minister by the unfortunate Phélypeaux.
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