Paul Octave Hébert

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Paul Octave Hébert

Paul Octave Hébert (born December 12, 1818 in Iberville Parish , Louisiana , † August 29, 1880 ibid) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ) and governor of the state of Louisiana from 1853 to 1856 .

Early years

Paul Hébert attended Jefferson College in Mississippi until 1836 and then the US Military Academy at West Point . There he graduated in 1840 as the best of his class. At West Point, the future generals William T. Sherman and George Henry Thomas were among his classmates. After graduating, Hébert remained at the academy as an engineering instructor until 1845. Then he retired from the military.

Political rise

In 1845, Hébert was appointed Chief Engineer of the State of Louisiana by Governor Alexander Mouton . He held this post until he re-entered the army in 1847 to fight as a lieutenant colonel in the Mexican-American War . There he received several awards for his bravery. In 1849, Hébert applied unsuccessfully for a seat in the Louisiana Senate . He then retired to his sugar plantation for a while. In 1852 he was a member of an assembly to revise the state constitution of Louisiana. Since incumbent Governor Joseph Marshall Walker resigned from office because of his dissatisfaction with the new constitution, new elections were announced, which Hébert won as the Democratic Party candidate .

Louisiana Governor

Hébert took up his new office on January 22, 1853. During his tenure, the state's infrastructure was further expanded. This affected, among other things, the waterways and the railway lines. By the end of his reign, four major Louisiana railroad companies were in business. The school system has also been improved, although it should be noted that this only applied to white children. At that time a state library was established and the militia reformed. Hébert's tenure was overshadowed by political squabbles. The governor also tried to involve members of other political parties in his government, which some of his democratic party friends resented him.

In the civil war

After the end of his governorship in January 1856, Hébert initially withdrew to his plantation. After the election of Abraham Lincoln as president, Hébert became a member of a defense committee, which should prepare the militia for military operations and initiate defense measures for the greater New Orleans area . After the beginning of the Civil War , in which Louisiana took part on the side of the southern states , Hébert was first brigadier general of the Louisiana militia and from August 1861 in the army of the Confederation . During 1862 he was deployed in Texas and in 1863 he was part of the defenders of Vicksburg Fortress . He lived through the rest of the war in Texas.

Another résumé

After the war ended, he was pardoned by President Andrew Johnson . Then he retired to his plantation again. Hébert supported the president's liberal reconstruction policy and favored Horace Greeley in the presidential elections of 1872 , who was defeated by incumbent Ulysses S. Grant and died a little later. In 1873 he was again Minister of Construction in Louisiana. Hébert was also a member of the Commission for the Regulation of the Mississippi River ( Mississippi River Commission ).

Paul Hébert died in August 1880. He was married twice and had a total of five children.

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

personal data
SURNAME Hébert, Paul Octave
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH December 12, 1818
PLACE OF BIRTH Iberville Parish , Louisiana
DATE OF DEATH August 29, 1880
Place of death Iberville Parish , Louisiana