Henri Peyroux de la Coudreniere
Encyclopedia
Henri Peyroux, de la Coudreniere (1743–18??), was a French politician and author who is perhaps best known for his scheme to transport the exiled Acadians from France
to Louisiana
, from which the people known as Cajun
s are descended.
Born in Mortagne-sur-Sèvre
in Poitou
, to Charles Peyroux, an apothecary and surgeon, and Marguerite Suzanne Joudad, he conceived the idea of resettling the exiled Acadians in Spanish Louisiana. Securing a commission and pension from Spain, Peyroux took the Acadian exile Olivier Terrio as a business partner, and together they worked with French and Spanish officials, as well as with the Acadian exiles, to coordinate the resettlement project. Complications arose when, for instance, Peyroux was arrested by French officials as a secret agent of Spain; in fact, the arrest had been arranged by French merchants who did not wish the Acadian exiles to depart without paying off their mounting debts. After numerous financial and bureaucratic setbacks, about 1,600 Acadian exiles sailed for Louisiana between May and October 1785. Peyroux also went to Louisiana, where he benefited from his commissions as a captain in the Spanish army and a commandant of the Sainte-Geneviève
Post in Spanish Illinois (now Missouri). Having succeeded in resettling the French-exiled Acadians, Peyroux betrayed his partner, Terrio, refusing to compensate him for his services. For these reasons Peyroux is viewed by some not so much as a benefactor of the Acadian people as an opportunistic colonial entrepreneur.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, from which the people known as Cajun
Cajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
s are descended.
Born in Mortagne-sur-Sèvre
Mortagne-sur-Sèvre
Mortagne-sur-Sèvre is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
in Poitou
Poitou
Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers.The region of Poitou was called Thifalia in the sixth century....
, to Charles Peyroux, an apothecary and surgeon, and Marguerite Suzanne Joudad, he conceived the idea of resettling the exiled Acadians in Spanish Louisiana. Securing a commission and pension from Spain, Peyroux took the Acadian exile Olivier Terrio as a business partner, and together they worked with French and Spanish officials, as well as with the Acadian exiles, to coordinate the resettlement project. Complications arose when, for instance, Peyroux was arrested by French officials as a secret agent of Spain; in fact, the arrest had been arranged by French merchants who did not wish the Acadian exiles to depart without paying off their mounting debts. After numerous financial and bureaucratic setbacks, about 1,600 Acadian exiles sailed for Louisiana between May and October 1785. Peyroux also went to Louisiana, where he benefited from his commissions as a captain in the Spanish army and a commandant of the Sainte-Geneviève
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
Ste. Genevieve is a city in and the county seat of Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,654 at the 2000 census...
Post in Spanish Illinois (now Missouri). Having succeeded in resettling the French-exiled Acadians, Peyroux betrayed his partner, Terrio, refusing to compensate him for his services. For these reasons Peyroux is viewed by some not so much as a benefactor of the Acadian people as an opportunistic colonial entrepreneur.