CLAVIERE, Etienne, Swiss financier, born in Geneva, 27 January, 1735 ; died 8 December, 1793. He removed to Paris, where he engaged in banking before the revolution, and became acquainted with Mirabeau, Brissot, and other popular leaders. Mirabeau, who had a high opinion of his talents, used Claviere's assistance in composing his speeches and essays. Du-mont says the Swiss banker was the author of almost all of Mirabeau's works on finance, he was chosen deputy to the National assembly in 1791, and was Girondist minister of finance from March till June, 1792. He was arrested on 2 June, 1793, on account of his opposition to Robespierre's extreme measures, and killed himself to escape the guillotine. His wife poisoned herself two days afterward. Claviere accompanied Brissot in his tour in the United States in 1783, and published, in conjunction with him, De la France et des Etats-Ums (English translation, London, 1788).