Léon Roches

Léon Roches (27 September 1809 – 1901) was a French diplomat. He was a representative of the French government in Japan from 1864 to 1868.

Early life and education Léon Roches was born on 27 September 1809 in Grenoble. He was a student at the in Tournon-sur-Rhône, and followed an education in Law. After only 6 months at university, he quit to assist friends of his father as a trader in Marseille.

North Africa When Léon's father acquired a plantation in Algeria, Léon left France to join him on 30 June 1832. Léon spent the next 32 years on the African continent.

Using his experiences in North Africa, he wrote a book titled Trente-deux ans à travers l′Islam (Thirty-two years through Islam).

Trieste 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 appointed Consul in Tripoli. In 1855, he became Consul in Tunis. He often wore Arab dress and was renowned for his abilities with guns and horses.

Roches advocated the use of strength against the anti-foreign adversaries of the Shogunate. He fully supported the 1864 allied Bombardment of Shimonoseki.

Roches also helped the Shogunate modernize. He arranged for an "Ecole Franco-Japonaise" to be established, and organized the building of the Yokosuka arsenal. In 1866, he wrote to the French Minister Drouyn de Lhuys:

He left Japan on 23 June 1868, following the defeat of the Shogun's forces in the battle of Toba-Fushimi.