Léon Roches

Léon Roches (September 27, 1809, Grenoble – 1900) was a representative of the French government in Japan from 1864 to 1868.

Léon Roches was a student at the Lycée de Tournon in Grenoble, and followed an education in Law. After only 6 months in University, he quit to assist friends of his father as a trader in Marseilles. [Polak 2001, p.31]

As Léon's father acquired a plantation in Algeria, Léon left France to join him on June 30, 1832. Léon would stay for the next 32 years on the African continent. [Polak 2001, p.31] Léon learned the Arab tongue very rapidly, and after two years was recruited as translator for the French Army in Africa. He became an Officer (Sous-Lieutenant) of cavalry in the Garde Nationale d'Algerie from 1835 to 1839. General Bugeaud asked him to negotiate with Abd-el-Kader in order to stop fighting with the French. He is noted as having been highly respected by Arab chieftains. [Polak 2001, p.31]

Under Bugeaud's recommendation, Roches joined the French Foreign Ministry as an interpret in 1845. In 1846 he became Secretary of the legation in Tanger, and then took responsibilities at the French mission in Morocco.

By an exceptional nomination, Roches became first-class Consul in Trieste, allowing him to acquire a strong experience in trading matters. After three years, he was nominated to become Consul in Tripoli. In 1855, he was Consul in Tunis. He often wore the Arab dress and was renowned for his abilities with guns and horses. [Polak 2001, p.31]

On October 7, 1863, Roches was nominated Consul General of France in Edo, Japan. His great rival was Harry Parkes. The French government took the side of the Tokugawa Bakufu and thus was not very popular in Japan after the Meiji Restoration.

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*Franco-Japanese relations