Thérèse Humbert: The 'first' financial criminal of the late 1800s

In the late 1800s, a period when women in France lacked basic financial autonomy, including the right to vote or open a bank account without their husband's permission, Thérèse Humbert rose to notoriety. She masterminded what is widely regarded as "the greatest fraud of the century," a testament to her audacious deception in an era that offered women few avenues for power or influence.

The origins of "La Grande Thérèse's" elaborate deception trace back to her father's own precarious financial dealings. Facing mounting debts, he resorted to inventing a wealthy "uncle from America" as a means to stall his creditors. This foundational lie set the stage for Thérèse's own complex web of deceit, demonstrating an early pattern of fabricating wealth and connections to manage financial pressures.

Born Thérèse Daurignac in 1856 in the village of Aussonne, Haute-Garonne, her life became intertwined with her father's schemes. The article suggests that the initial lie about the "uncle" was rooted in her father's own turbulent history and his repeated attempts to generate income through various projects. His strategy of inventing a rich benefactor was a key element in delaying payments and maintaining appearances, a tactic that Thérèse would later amplify on a grander scale.

The narrative positions Humbert's story within a broader context of historical financial swindlers, mentioning figures like Carlo Ponzi and Elizabeth Holmes. However, Humbert's case stands out due to the era in which it occurred and the societal constraints placed upon women. Her ability to execute such a large-scale fraud underscores a remarkable, albeit criminal, ingenuity that defied the limitations imposed by her gender and the financial regulations of the time.