Michel Vidal
Encyclopedia
Michel Vidal was a U.S. Representative
from Louisiana
.
Born in the city of Carcassonne
, Languedoc
, France
, Vidal completed university-level studies in France before emigrating to the Republic of Texas
. Soon after Texas became annexed to the United States, Vidal moved to the French-speaking region of south Louisiana. He engaged in literary and scientific pursuits and served as associate editor of several American and French newspapers for the French-speaking populations of the U.S. and Canada. He also served as an editor of the New York Courrier des États-Unis
and the New Orleans Picayune
(now the Times-Picayune). At the close of the Civil War
he was appointed by General John T. Sheridan
a registrar for the city of New Orleans. In 1867, he moved to Opelousas, Louisiana
, where he founded and edited the Saint Landry Progress. He served as delegate to the State constitutional convention of 1867 and 1868 (this convention wrote the "Reconstruction Constitution" which was in turn rescinded after white Democrats again gained control of Louisiana government) after 1876.
Upon readmission of Louisiana to representation in Congress, Vidal was elected, from Louisiana's 4th congressional district
(which included Opelousas), as a Republican
to the Fortieth United States Congress, (July 18, 1868-March 3, 1869), and was effectively in office until 1870.
He was appointed a United States commissioner under the convention concluded with Peru
in 1868 for the adjustment of claims of citizens of either country.
On his leaving Congress, Vidal was appointed by President Ulysses Grant as United States consul at Tripoli, Libya, where he served from April 5, 1870 to October 12, 1876.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 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...
.
Born in the city of Carcassonne
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department, of which it is the prefecture, in the former province of Languedoc.It is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century,...
, Languedoc
Languedoc
Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² .-Geographical Extent:The traditional...
, France
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...
, Vidal completed university-level studies in France before emigrating to the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
. Soon after Texas became annexed to the United States, Vidal moved to the French-speaking region of south Louisiana. He engaged in literary and scientific pursuits and served as associate editor of several American and French newspapers for the French-speaking populations of the U.S. and Canada. He also served as an editor of the New York Courrier des États-Unis
Courrier des Etats-Unis
The Courrier des Etats-Unis was a French language newspaper published by French immigrants in New York. It was founded in 1828 by Félix Lacoste with the help of Joseph Bonaparte , who was living in New Jersey....
and the New Orleans Picayune
Picayune
A picayune was a Spanish coin, worth half a real. Its name derives from the French picaillon, which is itself from the Provençal picaioun, meaning "small coin." By extension, picayune can mean "trivial" or "of little value."...
(now the Times-Picayune). At the close of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he was appointed by General John T. Sheridan
John T. Sheridan
Lieutenant General John T. "Tom" Sheridan is Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, California.His previous duties include being Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office, and Program Executive Officer and System Program Director for Space Radar, Chantilly, Virginia...
a registrar for the city of New Orleans. In 1867, he moved to Opelousas, Louisiana
Opelousas, Louisiana
Opelousas is a city in and the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies at the junction of Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 190. The population was 22,860 at the 2000 census. Although the 2006 population estimate was 23,222, a 2004 annexation should put the city's...
, where he founded and edited the Saint Landry Progress. He served as delegate to the State constitutional convention of 1867 and 1868 (this convention wrote the "Reconstruction Constitution" which was in turn rescinded after white Democrats again gained control of Louisiana government) after 1876.
Upon readmission of Louisiana to representation in Congress, Vidal was elected, from Louisiana's 4th congressional district
Louisiana's 4th congressional district
Louisiana's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The district is located in the northwestern part of the state and is based in Shreveport-Bossier City. It also includes the cities of Minden, DeRidder, and Natchitoches.The district is currently...
(which included Opelousas), as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Fortieth United States Congress, (July 18, 1868-March 3, 1869), and was effectively in office until 1870.
He was appointed a United States commissioner under the convention concluded with Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
in 1868 for the adjustment of claims of citizens of either country.
On his leaving Congress, Vidal was appointed by President Ulysses Grant as United States consul at Tripoli, Libya, where he served from April 5, 1870 to October 12, 1876.