Pierre Derbigny

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Pierre Derbigny

Pierre Auguste Charles Bourguignon Derbigny (born June 30, 1769 in Laon , France , † October 6, 1829 in Gretna , Louisiana ) was a French- American politician and from 1828 to 1829 governor of the state of Louisiana.

Early years

Pierre Derbigny was born in France. He also studied law there. He fled to Santo Domingo in 1791 during the French Revolution . From there he traveled on to the USA. There he lived in Pennsylvania , Missouri , Florida and Illinois before he settled in New Orleans , Spain, in 1797 . There he served the Spanish authorities as a translator into English.

Political rise

After the area fell to the United States through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Derbigny began a political career. He initially worked for the New Orleans City Council and later helped found the Orleans Territory . At that time he campaigned for the reintroduction of the slave trade in this area. He was among the proponents of French law versus British common law and was also involved in founding the College of Orleans . In 1812 he was a member of the territorial senate for a short time. Between 1814 and 1820 Derbigny was a Supreme Court Justice in the new US state of Louisiana. There he worked on a reform of civil law, which came into force in 1825. In 1820 he ran unsuccessfully for governor. He was then from 1820 to 1827 Secretary of State in Louisiana. At the same time he was a school councilor in New Orleans ( Regent of the central and primary schools ).

Louisiana Governor

On July 7, 1828 Derbigny was elected the new governor of his state. He took up this office on December 15, 1828. During his tenure, several new shipping companies were formed in New Orleans. Dikes were built or repaired to protect against flooding. Education was also promoted by Derbigny. A gas lighting company was founded in New Orleans. Derbigny also tried to mediate in the conflict between the Anglo-Americans and the Creoles in Louisiana. However, the governor did not have enough time to implement all of his political plans. On October 6, he died after falling from a moving carriage. He was the first Louisiana governor to die in office. Derbigny had seven children with his wife, Felicite Odile de Hault de Lassus.

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personal data
SURNAME Derbigny, Pierre
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Bourguignon Derbigny, Pierre Auguste Charles (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French-American politician and governor of the state of Louisiana (1828–1829)
DATE OF BIRTH June 30, 1769
PLACE OF BIRTH Laon , France
DATE OF DEATH October 6, 1829
Place of death Gretna , Louisiana