Colonial Governors of Louisiana French period 1699-1766 Colonial Governors of Louisiana French period 1699-1766

Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville French Period Governor 1699-1702. Iberville may be said to have been the founder of Louisiana. He was commissioned by Louis XIV to secure the claims of La Salle on behalf of France, and to explore and colonize the vast Louisiana Territory. Pierre Le Moyne, sieur d'Iberville et d'Ardillières 1699-1702- Pierre Lemoyne, Sieur d'Iberville et d'Ardillieres Iberville may be said to have been the founder of Louisiana. He was commissioned by Louis XIV to secure the claims of La Salle on behalf of France, and to explore and colonize the vast Louisiana Territory.) Photos Courtesy of the State Governor's Office and Wikipedia

Sauer de Sauvolve Governor 1699-1700 Sieur de Sauvolve became Acting Governor when Iberville returned to France to seek assistance for the territory. He died of yellow fever in 1701. French Period Served 1699-1700 Sieur de Sauvolve became Acting Governor when Iberville returned to France to seek assistance for the territory. He died of yellow fever in 1701.

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville French Period Appointed Governor 4 separate times during 1701-1743. 1701-1713 1716-1717 1718-1724 1733-1743 Born February 23, 1680 – Died March 7, 1767 Was a colonizer, born in Montreal, Quebec He was a younger brother of explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville. Also known as Sieur de Bienville. Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville (February 23, 1680 – March 7, 1767) was a colonizer, born in Montreal, Quebec and repeated governor of French Louisiana, appointed 4 separate times during 1701-1743. He was a younger brother of explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville. He is also known as Sieur de Bienville. Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne was the son of Charles le Moyne and Catherine Primot. Originally from Dieppe, France, Charles le Moyne established his family in the settlement of Ville-Marie (present day Montreal)at an early age and had fourteen children total. At the age of eighteen, Bienville joined his brother Iberville on an expedition to Governor of Louisiana After Sauvolle's death in 1701, Bienville ascended to the governorship of the new territory for the first of four terms. By 1701, only 150 persons remained in the colony, the rest having died from malnutrition and disease. [edit] Father of New Orleans Bienville wrote to the Directors of the Company in 1717 that he had discovered a crescent bend in the Mississippi River which he felt was safe from tidal waves and hurricanes and proposed that the new capital of the colony be built there. Permission was granted, and Bienville set off in 1718 to start construction. By 1719, a sufficient number of huts and storage houses had been built that Bienville began moving supplies and troops from Mobile. Following disagreements with the chief engineer of the colony, Le Blond de la Tour, Bienville ordered an assistant engineer, Adrien de Pauger, to draw up plans for the new city in 1720. In 1721, Pauger drew up the eleven-by-seven block rectangle now known as the French Quarter or the Vieux Carre. After moving into his new home on the site of what is now the Custom House, Bienville named the new city "La Nouvelle-Orléans" in honor of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, the Prince Regent of France. New Orleans became the capital of French Louisiana by 1723, during Bienville's 3rd term. Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville - Wikipedia Photos Courtesy of the State Governor's Office and Wikipedia

Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac French Period 1710 – 1716 Governor (although he did not arrive in Louisiana until 1713). The Cadillac automobile is named in his honor. Born in 1658 Died 1730 Founder of Detroit, Michigan. Christened Antoine Laumet. When he arrived in New France (Canada) in 1683 at the age of 25, he changed his identity to sieur Antoine de Lamothe-Cadillac. Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac Born in 1658- Died 1730 Founder of Detroit, Michigan. Christened Antoine Laumet. When he arrived in New France (Canada) in 1683 at the age of 25, he changed his identity to sieur Antoine de Lamothe-Cadillac. 1710 - 1716 he was the governor of Louisiana although he did not arrive in Louisiana until 1713. The Cadillac automobile is named in his honor. Photos Courtesy of the State Governor's Office and Wikipedia

Jean Michiele de L'Epinay French Period Governor of the French colony of Louisiana from 1717 to 1718. L'Epinay served under Louis XV. His brief administration was marked by the same dissent ions as that of his predecessor. L'Epinay was removed as governor in 1718. Jean-Michel de Lepinay Wikipedia Governor of the French colony of Louisiana from 1717 to 1718. Naval officer and served over twenty years in Canada. He was appointed governor by Antoine Crozat, the royally appointed administrator of the colony. Lepinay soon found himself at odds with Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, twice governor and an influential leader in the colony. Lepinay was replaced as governor by Bienville after Crozat successfully petitioned to be released from his agreement to develop the colony. Photo Courtesy of the State Governor's Office

Pierre Sidrac Dugue de Boisbriand French Period Governor 1725-1726 Bienville's cousin Named interim governor by Louis XV to replace Bienville, who had been recalled to France to answer charges of malfeasance. Pierre Sidrac, Dugue de Boisbriand Pierre Sidrac, Dugue de Boisbriand 1675-1736 interim French Governor of Louisiana.(1724-1726) 1675 February 21 Born at Montreal, Canada, son of Michel Sidrac, Canadian Seigneur and Marie Moyen. 1691 Joins the French Navy and rises to the rank of Ensign by 1694. 1700 Joins Iberville on his second voyage to Louisiana and begins going on many of the explorations with his cousins Iberville and Bienville 1703 Boisbriand is aide-major to Bienville on a voyage to Pensacola to borrow supplies from the Spanish settlement there. 1705 Boisbriand is severely wounded while traveling through hostile Choctaw territory with a group of Chickasaw Indians. He is nursed back to health by Marie-Françoise de Boisrenaud. He falls in love with her, but Bienville will not allow a marriage. She is too closely allied with the Intendant Nicholas LaSalle, with whom Bienville is quarrelling. 1717 Appointed commandant of the Mobile and Dauphine Island District. But soon he is called back to France, where he spends time settling his own affairs and lobbying for the return of Bienville to Louisiana. 1718 April 17 On his return to North America, Boisbriand is named commandant of the Illinois District. He supervises the construction of Fort Chartres. 1724 January Bienville is recalled to France to answer accusations and Boisbriant, Commandant at Ft. Chartres is appointed ad interim governor of Louisiana until Etienne Perier takes over next year. 1727 March 15 Etienne Perier finally arrives to assume the duties of governor of Louisiana. 1728 Boisbriand leaves New Orleans for France. 1729 Spring He is censured by the royal court and dismissed from royal service. 1730 Awarded a modest pension. 1736 June 7 Dies in France after Bienville is again governor of Louisiana.

Étienne Périer Governor 1727-1733 Perier was named Governor of Louisiana to permanently replace Bienville after his recall to France. He served under Louis XV through the time of transition from colony back to royal province status until 1733 when Bienville again returned to office. French Period Étienne Périer 1727-1733 Etienne de Perier Governor No known image of this governor exists. Perier was named Governor of Louisiana to permanently replace Bienville after his recall to France. He served under Louis XV through the time of transition from colony back to royal province status until 1733 when Bienville again returned to office. Étienne Périer was the fifth governor of the Louisiana colony. He became governor in 1727. His governorship was marked by the arrival of the first Ursuline nuns in New Orleans in 1727 to establish the first convent. Périer remained governor for two years after Louisiana was returned to the king. He resigned, and Jean-Baptiste le Moyne de Bienville was chosen to yet again be governor of the colony.

Pierre François de Rigaud French Period Governor 1743-1753 Vaudreuil was appointed by Louis XV to succeed Bienville Served until 1753 when he left to become Governor-general of Canada. Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal 22 November 1698 – 4 August 1778) was a Canadian born French colonial governor in North America. He was born November 22, 1698 to the governor of New France, Philippe de Rigaud Vaudreuil and his wife Louise-Élisabeth de Joybert de Soulanges et de Marson, in Quebec. He was governor of French Louisiana (1743-1753) and in 1755 became the last governor of New France (or Canada), during the period when the British conquered it in the Seven Years' War (known in the USA as the "French and Indian War"). Photos Courtesy of the State Governor's Office and Wikipedia

Louis Billouart, Chevalier de Kerlerec French Period Governor 1753-1763 Kerlerec was appointed governor by Louis XV as a reward for 25 years of distinguished military service. Later, returned to France and was jailed in the Bastille for a time before his death in 1770. During his term, much of the Louisiana Territory was ceded to Spain by France under the secret treaty at Fountainbleu. Louis Billouart, Chevalier de Kerlerec Louis Billouart, Chevalier de Kerlerec (1704-1770) was the governor of the French colony of Louisiana from 1753 to 1763. After the former governor, Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal, was promoted to the post of Governor of New France, Kerlerec, a naval officer originally from Quimper, France with twenty-five years of service, was chosen to replace him. Kerlerec's administration suffered due to lack of support from the French government, which was immersed in the French and Indian War. Kerlerec took precautions to defend the colony from a possible British| attack by erecting a palisade around New Orleans, rebuilding the battery at English Turn and anchoring an old ship at the mouth of the Mississippi which could be sunk to keep out any English ships which tried to enter. However, Kerlerec's request for more troops went unanswered, and Kerlerec tightened his discipline over the troops already stationed in the colony. During his governorship, relations between the Jesuit and the Capuchin orders in the colony were strained, and the local Indian tribes threatened to switch allegiances to the British if they were not provided with more supplies and merchandise. After a few years of not receiving communications or supplies from France, the colony learned that Louisiana had been handed over to the Spanish as a result of the French and Indian War. After many public quarrels with the Commissary-Commissioner, who accused Kerlerec of stealing money from the colony's treasury and acting as a dictator, Kerlerec was recalled to France and thrown into prison in 1763. He was exiled from Paris in 1769 but was exonerated a year later. Kerlerec then returned to Paris where he died in 1770. There is currently a street named after Kerlerec in New Orleans, which runs through the 7th Ward from Chartres St in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, north to Dorgenois St. Due to developments over the years, the road is "broken" and does not run straight through its original course. Photo Courtesy of the State Governor's Office

Jean-Jacques Blaise d'Abbadie French Period Governor 1763-1765 Louis XV continued to direct the affairs in Louisiana because the Treaty of Fontainebleau remained secret and he appointed d'Abbadie to serve a governor. In 1765, the king informed him that Louisiana had become a Spanish province and ordered his return to France. Died shortly afterwards in New Orleans on February 4, 1765, before the Spanish occupation forces arrived. Jean-Jacques Blaise d'Abbadie Louisiana Governor 1763-1765 Louis XV continued to direct the affairs in Louisiana because the Treaty of Fontainebleau remained secret and he appointed D'Abbadie to serve a governor. In 1765, the king informed him that Louisiana had become a Spanish province and ordered his return to France. He died shortly afterwards in New Orleans on February 4, 1765, before the Spanish occupation forces arrived.) 1726-February 4, 1765, New Orleans) was the governor of the French colony of Louisiana from 1763 to 1765. Photo Courtesy of the State Governor's Office

Charles Philippe Aubry French Period Governor 1765-1766 Charles Philippe Aubry served under Louis XV as transitional governor between French and Spanish regimes. Charles Philippe Aubry 1765-1766 Charles Phillipe Aubry (No known image of this governor exists. Charles Phillipe Aubry served under Louis XV as transitional governor between French and Spanish regimes after Governor D'Abbadie died in office.)

Colonial Governors of Louisiana 2nd French period 1803 Colonial Governors of Louisiana 2nd French period 1803

Pierre Clement de Laussat 2nd French Period Served as interim governor from November 30 to December 20, 1803. Laussat came as Napoleon's representative before the transfer from Spain to France. His role was to prepare for the new French governor, General Claude Victor. Within weeks, Napoleon changed his mind and ordered negotiations to sell the territory to the United States. . Pierre Clement de Laussat Pierre Clement de Laussat (1756 - 1835) was a French politician, and the last French governor of Louisiana. De Laussat was born in the town of Pau. After serving as receveur général des finances in Pau and Bayonne, he was imprisoned during the Terror, but was released and recruited in the armée des Pyrénées. On April 17, 1797 was elected in the Council of Ancients. After the coup of 18 Brumaire, he entered in the Tribunat on December 25, 1799. He was appointed by Napoleon Bonaparte to be colonial prefect (governor) of Louisiana in 1802. He arrived in the colony on March 26, 1803. This was just two weeks before Napoleon had made his decision to sell the Louisiana colony to the United States. For several months Laussat ruled as a normal governor and first he abolished the Cabildo and then he published the Napoleonic Code in the colony. Several months had gone by and Laussat was hearing that the colony had been sold to the U.S. but he did not believe it. On July 28, 1803, Laussat wrote to the French government that a rumor that the colony had been sold was going around New Orleans. On May 18, 1803 Laussat received word from Napoleon that France had declared war on England and that he was to transfer the colony to the United States. On December 20, 1803 he transferred the colony to James Wilkinson and William Charles Cole Claiborne. On April 21, 1804 he left the colony and became colonial prefect of Martinique, until 1809 when he was captured and imprisoned before the english conquest of the island. retired to the ancestral chateau in France and died in 1835 Photos Courtesy of the State Governor's Office