Magon, de la Ballus.

French privateer/merchant.

Descendant of merchant family widely known and highly influential in sixteenth-century economic enterprises.

From the description of Papers of Magon de la Ballus, 1756-1757. (University of Maryland Libraries). WorldCat record id: 28627979

The sea captain Magon of the ship "Balue" (or "Ballus") was a descendant of a prominent merchant family widely known and highly influential in sixteenth-century economic enterprises. The Magon family was among a number of elite merchant families, who for many generations were deeply involved in international trade and who in turn led to the growth of Saint Malo, France, as an economic metropolis and worldwide port during the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries. Like other privateer-merchant families of the time, the Magons joined in business with a number of families of the royal court and were of great service to the royal family.

During the 1700s the Magon family became the wealthiest of all of Saint Malo residents. The ship "Balue," under the auspices of the Magon family, was used for the transportation and trade of dye, coffee, printed cotton, dollars, corn and wheat, codfish, slaves, and sails and other ship equipment.

Beginning in the sixteenth century, and until the time of the French Revolution, the Magon family was highly regarded as a powerful, enterprising commercial giant of the region. The family was also well known for their affiliations with Saint Malo's admnistration of commerce, office of farmer general of revenues, and office of "The Bank of the Court." The Magons were also among the first economists in Saint Malo. The family is believed to be originally of Spanish lineage.

From the guide to the Magon de la Ballus letterbook, 1756-1757, 1756-1757, (State of Maryland and Historical Collections)