The bastille prison was seized in July 14th. The king, Louis XVI had sent troops to paris to take care of uprisings that were occuring as a result of food shortages. The people, that is the revolutionaries got angry at this gesture and so in response, the Bastille prison got seized. These were part of the series of events that led to the king being overthrown and the french revolution.
The laws were made by the praetor. After the consuls, the praetor was the second highest role in Rome and had the responsability of administrating justice.
He founded the meatpacking company "Armour and Company" in Chicago in 1867, which matches the American businessman and 19th century parts of your question. I hope this helps!
