Anne Robert Jacques Turgot (1727-1781) was a French economist and statesman known for his influential ideas on economic reform. He served as the Controller-General of Finances under King Louis XVI and advocated for free trade and reduced government intervention in the economy. Turgot believed that economic growth could be achieved through individual initiative and competition. Turgot is best known for his work on the physiocratic school of thought, which emphasized the importance of agriculture in the economy. His writings, including the "Reflections on the Formation and Distribution of Wealth," laid the groundwork for modern economic theory and influenced later economists like Adam Smith.