This is the story of Captain Mathieu de Clieu, a naval officer at Martinique.  Upon visiting France for personal reasons, he was determined to introduce coffee cultivation to Martinique.  The captain began his efforts in obtaining a coffee plant to take back to Martinique.  It was with the help of a "kindly office of a lady of quality" that he was able to do this.

By 1777, it is reported that there were 18,791,680 coffee plants in Martinique.  De Clieu was honored in 1746 by Louis XV as a distinguished officer to whom the colonies, as well as France itself, and commerce in general, are indebted for the cultivation of coffee.

There is some confusion over when de Clieu passed away and to whether he died in poverty.  But he is, without doubt, remembered as a generous, caring, and sympathetic man who felt he was serving his country with his love for that single coffee plant.  The only memorial to de Cleiu is a botanical garden in Martinique.  It was dedicated to de Cleiu, "whose memory has been too long left in oblivion".

According  to  historical data,  de  Cleiu embarked at Nantes in 1723.  He had prepared a glass covered box to transport his coffee plant, in order to absorb the suns rays for cloudy days.  One of his passengers was envious of the captain and did everything in his power to disrupt the captain's success.  But, fortunately, this passengers attempts failed.  The captain and his precious plant arrived in Martinique safely.

In a letter written to L'Annee Litteraire (a great Enlightenment periodical), the captain tells of the infinite care he bestowed upon his delicate plant.  He speaks of the passengers attempts to kill the plant by tearing off a branch.  He tells a story of rationing water supplies and how he shared his ration of water with his most precious cargo, the coffee plant.

After his arrival in Martinique, Captain de Clieu planted his coffee plant on his estate in Precheur where it multiplied with great success.  From the seedlings of this plant came most of the coffee trees of the Antilles with the first harvest gathered in 1726.  The captain says he not only planted the tree in the most suitable growing area of his estate, but he also planted thorn bushes around the plant to protect it from thieves.  His concern for his precious plant was so deep, the captain took even stronger measures to protect the plant by having his most endearing employees stand guard around the plant until it reached maturity.  De Clieu was so attached and protective of his coffee plant and it's seedlings, he vowed to only give seeds to those he knew would give the plants the care necessary for their prosperity.