Gov. Pierre Auguste Charles Bourguignon Derbigny

About

PIERRE A. C. B. DERBIGNY was born in Laon, France on June 30, 1767. After studying law at St. Genevieve, Derbigny left France, and immigrated to Santo Domingo. He later came to the United States, living in Pennsylvania, Missouri, Florida, and Illinois, before finally settling in Louisiana. Derbigny entered public service in 1803, serving as secretary of the municipality of New Orleans. That same year, he secured an appointment as the official interpreter of languages for the territory. He served as clerk of Common Pleas, was secretary of the Legislative Council in 1804, and served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1812. He also served on the bench of the Louisiana Supreme Court from 1813 to 1820, was the Louisiana secretary of state from 1820 to 1827, and served as a regent for the central and primary schools in New Orleans. In 1820, he ran unsuccessfully for governor; however, eight years later, he won election. He was sworn into office on December 15, 1828. During his tenure, several New Orleans navigation companies were authorized, the state’s levees and bayous were developed, educational improvements were endorsed, a New Orleans gas light company was integrated, and attempts were made to mend political rifts between the French and English. Three days after being thrown from a horse drawn carriage, Governor Pierre A.C.B. Derbigny passed away. He was entombed in the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, in New Orleans.

Source

Dawson III, Joseph G. The Louisiana Governors: From Iberville to Edwards. Baton Rouge: Lousiana State University Press, 1990.

Encyclopedia Louisiana

The Political Graveyard

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 2, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.

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