In 1775, at the age of 34, Bertrand de Boucheporn became the third intendant of Corsica, the island which had been ceded to France by the Republic of Genoa via the Treaty of Versailles, in 1768. He spent "ten fruitful years (1775–85) on the island." By his "ordonnances" he was supportive to the island's development of forestry, agriculture and the industry and he established a plan for enlarging the bridges to enhance transport capabilities and commerce. He also reformed the island's tax system with a new "territorial tax" replacing all other taxes attached to land's ownership.