Euréka - the history

M. Eugène was appointed director of the Mauritius Commercial Bank where he became president on the 6 November 1871. Founder and editor of the newspaper Le Mauricien in 1833, he played an important role in stopping the setting up of a second commercial bank on the island.

He was again president of the MCB in 1879 and vice-president in 1877 and 1878. Born in 1805, he lived till the age of 88.

François Alexis Le Clézio, ship owner from Lorient, Britanny, left France after the battle of Valmy and set on a voyage to meet his brother in India. On his way, he stopped in Mauritius which was at the time named Isle de France.

"During his voyage, François came to know some famous privateers of his time: "Dutertre", "Le Tellier", " Le même" (wha was the captain of the ship "La Fortune" and the well known Robert Surcouf)".

François Alexis has four children. Eugène, one of his sons converts his father's office into an attorney's office. He is later successful in acquiring the property of Eurêka in 1853 from an english man nammed Robinson.

François Alexis Le Clézio dies at Euréka and many more generations were born there. Sir Eugène, chief justice and Sir Henry, attorney and member of the Legislative Assembly both lived at Eurêka.

Sir Henry buys his brother's shares of Euréka in 1920 and becomes the only owner of Euréka and Alma. Sir Henry who owned a large fortune, lived in one of the simple houses on the property. One of his grand child, Fernand Leclézio will be involved in the adventure of FUEL Sugar Estate in 1947.

Political figure and attorney, he was appointed director of the Mauritius Commercial Bank in 1879 and was a member of the board of directors for 24.

Elected member of the legislative assembly for the constituency of Moka from 1882 - 1920, C.M.G. in 1897, K.C.M.G. in 1915, he is Vice president of the MCB from november 1912 - 1914. He was also one of the advisors during the government of John Pope Hennessy.

There was no business in Mauritius where his influence wasn't felt. Outstanding debator, he made two speeches in one same session during a legislative assembly meeting in August 1920.

When Simone Leclézio, the only aunt who inherited Eurêka and the fortune of the Leclézio family, died in 1980, there were 104 nephews and nieces, some of them already grand-parents. Euréka was given to Fernand Leclézio and the fortune was distributed among the rest of the nephews and nieces.

Fernand Leclézio had emmigrated to Switzerland where he died at the age of 85, in 1989.

Fernand Leclézio sold the property in 1985 to 2 real estate agents. The agents in turn wanted to sell it two months later and Jacques de Maroussem and his in-laws bought Euréka. The actual owner, Jacques de Maroussem is in fact married to Monique d'Arifat whose mother is the grand child of Sir Henry Leclézio).

"Fernand Leclézio was a precursor. By having the Gujadhur family (hindu family which were considered then as inferior by the french) as business partners while setting up FUEL Sugar Estate, he already could see Mauritius of today." - Jacques de Marroussem

Three years after the end of the World War II, many sugar estates were desperately trying to recover from prevailing war shortages.

Fernand Leclézio, then 42 years old, managed to convince the Gujadhur family to sell the majority of their shares in The Union Flacq Sugar Estates Co Ltd to Unity Ltd, a holding company controlled by F & R Leclézio & Co Ltd.