Victor Schoelcher was Vice-Secretary of State for the French Navy and representative at the General Assembly of France for Martinique and the French Colonies. He was a fervent abolitionist and wrote the decree abolishing slavery in 1848. He was a book collector who believed education was extremely important. He donated 9534 books as well as musical scores to Martinique in 1883 and made other donations to the colonies of Guadaloupe and French Guiana.