Francois quesnay biography cortal

French physician, Physiocratic economist, and orientalist (1694–1774)

François Quesnay (French:[fʁɑ̃swakɛnɛ]; 4 June 1694 – 16 December 1774) was a French economist and physician of the Physiocratic school.^[1] He is known for publishing the "Tableau économique" (Economic Table) in 1758, which provided the foundations of the ideas of the Physiocrats.^[2] This was perhaps the first work attempting to describe the workings of the economy in an analytical way, and as such can be viewed as one of the first important contributions to economic thought.

His Le Despotisme de la Chine, written in 1767, describes Chinese politics and society, and his own political support for enlightened despotism.^[3]

Life

Quesnay was born at Méré near Versailles, the son of an advocate and small landed proprietor.

Apprenticed at the age of sixteen to a surgeon, he soon went to Paris, studied medicine and surgery there, and, having qualified as