How a French Officer Brought Coffee to the Americas

Ever wondered how coffee spread from its birthplace in Ethiopia to become a global staple? One of the most dramatic chapters in that story involves a single French naval officer, a few fragile coffee seedlings, and a perilous transatlantic voyage in the early 18th century.

The short answer: Between 1720 and 1723, French officer Gabriel-Mathieu de Clieu managed—after two failed attempts—to transport a small number of coffee seedlings from Paris to Martinique. Despite pirate attacks, storms, sabotage, and near-death thirst for the plants, he succeeded. By 1726, those trees bore the first Martinique coffee crop, launching a plantation boom across the Caribbean.

The Man Who Smuggled Coffee Across the Atlantic

In the early 1720s, France’s colonial ambitions included coffee. Gabriel-Mathieu de Clieu, a French naval officer, was stationed in Martinique. Before leaving Paris in around 1720–1723, he acquired a small number of coffee seedlings—likely obtained through connections at the Jardin du Roi (King’s Garden)—and resolved to bring them to the Caribbean colony.

De Clieu made two failed attempts before succeeding on his third try. He transported the seedlings in a perforated glass box on the ship’s deck. This container shielded them from salt spray and helped regulate temperature. His journey was fraught: pirates attacked the vessel, violent storms battered it, and a jealous crew member even tried to destroy the seedlings, breaking off a branch during a scuffle. At one point, the ship ran aground and fresh water ran dangerously low. De Clieu rationed his own drinking supply to keep the seedlings alive.

Survival Against the Odds

De Clieu’s glass box was ingenious: perforated to allow airflow and light, yet protective against seawater and temperature swings. The two recorded crises—the near-destruction by a crew member and the water rationing—highlight just how close the mission came to failure. Historical accounts, including de Clieu’s own journal, document these events in detail.

• Pirates attacked the ship at least once.
• A violent storm threatened the vessel.
• A jealous sailor broke off a coffee branch in a fight.
• The ship ran aground, causing extreme freshwater shortages.
• De Clieu used his own drinking water to irrigate the seedlings.

The Birth of Martinique’s Coffee Industry

After arriving safely in Martinique around 1723, de Clieu planted the seedlings and surrounded them with thorny bushes for protection. He assigned enslaved people to guard the young trees day and night. The plants took root, flowered, and fruited. By 1726, the trees produced Martinique’s first coffee harvest.

The impact was enormous. By 1777, records indicate there were 18,791,680 coffee trees on the island. Coffee cultivation soon spread to nearby islands, including Haiti, Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti), and Guadeloupe. De Clieu did not live to see this success—he died in Paris on November 30, 1724, at age 88. Though not wealthy in life, he was widely respected. In 1918, a monument was erected in his honor at the Jardin de Balata (formerly Fort Desaix Botanical Garden) in Martinique.

More Than Just One Man’s Mission

De Clieu wasn’t alone. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, many individuals—motivated by profit, political amnesty, or colonial strategy—risked their lives to transport coffee seedlings across oceans and continents. Governments often encouraged these efforts to secure economic advantages through coffee exports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Gabriel-Mathieu de Clieu?

Gabriel-Mathieu de Clieu was a French naval officer stationed in Martinique around 1720–1723. He is credited with transporting coffee seedlings from Paris to Martinique, overcoming pirates, storms, sabotage, and extreme water shortages to ensure their survival. He died in Paris in 1724, aged 88.

Why was transporting coffee seedlings so dangerous in the 1720s?

Coffee seedlings were fragile, valuable, and highly sought after. Transporting them involved threats from pirates, violent sea storms, potential sabotage by jealous crew members, and extreme shortages of fresh water on long voyages. De Clieu’s journey included all these risks.

How did de Clieu protect the coffee seedlings during the voyage?

De Clieu planted the seedlings in a perforated glass box on the ship’s deck. This allowed airflow and light while protecting the seedlings from saltwater and helping to regulate temperature. It was a key factor in their survival.

What happened to the coffee plants after they arrived in Martinique?

De Clieu planted the seedlings in Martinique, protected them with thorny bushes, and had them guarded. By 1726, the trees bore their first harvest. The industry grew rapidly, with 18,791,680 coffee trees recorded on the island by 1777. Coffee spread to nearby islands soon after.

Did de Clieu profit from bringing coffee to Martinique?

No. De Clieu did not become wealthy from his actions. He died in 1724, before the full impact of the Martinique coffee industry was realized. However, he was respected for his role, and a monument was erected in his memory in 1918.

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