Jacques Dupré

Jacques Dupré

Jacques Dupré (born February 12, 1773 in New Orleans , viceroy New Spain , † September 14, 1846 in Opelousas , Louisiana) was an American politician and governor of the state of Louisiana from 1830 to 1831 .

Early years

Jacques Dupré grew up in Louisiana, Spain, and received a private school education. In 1810 he became a successful rancher on a ranch northwest of Opelousas. In the meantime, Louisiana had become part of the United States via France in 1803, initially as a territory and from 1812 as a state. During the British-American War he was a major in the Louisiana Militia. In January 1815 he took part in the Battle of New Orleans .

Political career

In 1816 and again from 1822 to 1824 he was a member of the House of Representatives from Louisiana . From 1829 to 1839 he was a member of the Louisiana Senate . On January 14, 1830, he was elected President of the Senate. Since at that time after the death of Governor Pierre Derbigny in October 1829 the office of Governor of Louisiana was vacant, the Senate President had to take over this office according to the state constitution. Between October 1829 and January 1830 this was Armand Beauvais , Dupré's predecessor as Senate President. After his election as President of the Senate, Dupré was also Governor of Louisiana. Dupré held the office of governor until January 31, 1831. Then André Roman , who was elected in an extraordinary gubernatorial election, succeeded him as governor. This practice of succession to a governor who had left office during his reign was not changed until 1845 with the introduction of the office of lieutenant governor .

It was during this time that Louisiana laid the foundations for the state's first railroad. The capital was moved back to New Orleans; the dispute over the capital question was not decided until 1849 with the relocation to Baton Rouge . It was also when the Merchant's Insurance Company , a sewer construction company, and a sugar refinery came into being. It also banned free black people from immigrating to Louisiana. After the end of his governorship, Dupré resigned as President of the Senate. But he remained a member of this body. Between 1832 and 1844 he was one of the Whig Party electors in every presidential election . Jacques Dupré died in September 1846. He had seven children with his wife Theotoste Roy.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 2, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• Dupre at the National Governors Association (English)
• The Governors of Louisiana (English)
• Jacques Dupré in the database of Find a Grave (English)