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Millaud, Moïse-Polydore

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

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French journalist and banker; born at Bordeaux Aug. 27, 1813; died at Paris 1871. The son of a poor Jewish tradesman, he received but a meager education, and entered a bailiff's office as clerk. He applied himself to literature from his youth, and at the age of twenty established a small newspaper, "Le Lutin." In 1836 he went to Paris and founded "Le Gamin de Paris," the first newspaper to be sold at the doors of theaters, and "Le Négociateur," concerned entirely with commercial matters. Although neither was financially successful, he gained valuable training from them. In 1839 he founded "L'Audience," devoted exclusively to the news of the law courts, which was very prosperous until 1845; and he was the leading competitor of the "Gazette des Tribunaux." On Feb. 24, 1845, he established "La Liberté," which strongly supported the cause of Prince Louis Napoleon. After the insurrection of June the paper was suppressed. Together with Mirès, his compatriot, he started an industrial and financial sheet, "Le Journal des Chemins de Fer," which became a power in matters of speculation and finance. Availing themselves of the popularity of Lamartine, the two collaborators established the paper "Le Conseiller du Peuple," and founded the two banking institutions Caisses des Actions Réunies and Caisses des Chemins de Fer, from which Millaud retired in favor of Mirès in 1853, after each had cleared 3,000,000 francs. The Caisse Générale des Actionnaires and the purchase of the rights of Girardin in "La Presse" proved less fortunate than the two preceding ventures. In 1863 he conceived the idea of starting a daily paper at the price of 5 centimes, and established "Le Petit Journal," which was a signal success. He was the founder also of "Le Journal Illustré," "Le Soleil," and "Le Journal des Voyageurs."

In 1859, in collaboration with Clairville, Millaud made his first essay in dramatic literature, and produced a three-act light comedy, "Ma Mère et Mon Ours," which had a great success. During the Second Empire, Millaud gave superb entertainments; but finally he lost the greater part of his large fortune.