Pierre Derbigny
Encyclopedia
Pierre Augustin Charles Bourguignon Derbigny (1769–1829) was the sixth Governor of Louisiana. Born in 1769, at Laon
near Lille
, France
, the eldest son of Augustin Bourguignon d'Herbigny who was President of the Directoire de l'Aisne and Mayor of Laon, and Louise Angelique Blondela.
Derbigny studied law at Ste. Genevieve but fled France in 1791 during the French Revolution
. He arrived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
and married Felicité Odile de Hault de Lassus with whom he would have five daughters and two sons.
He arrived in New Orleans, then a Spanish colony, in 1797 and by 1803 had been appointed Secretary of the Legislative Council. After the United States' annexation of the Louisiana Purchase
in 1803, Derbigny was one of the representatives of the new Americans in Washington seeking self-government for the Orleans Territory. His oration of July 4, 1804 also urges for the reopening of the slave trade.
As the territory was integrated into the United States, Derbigny opposed British common law
in Louisiana and defended the retention of civil law
practices established during the French and Spanish colonial colonial periods. He also lead a movement to establish the College of Orleans and served as Regent. In 1812, he was selected as Secretary of the Territorial Senate. He also served in Captain Chauveneau's Company of Cavalry in the Louisiana Militia.
From 1814-1820, Derbigny served as a Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court
. He was one of the principal drafters of the 1825 Civil Code of Louisiana, along with Edward Livingston
, François Xavier Martin
and Louis Moreau de Liset.
In 1821, Derbigny resigned from the Supreme Court of Louisiana to run unsuccessfully for Governor against Jean N. Destréhan
, Abner Duncan and Thomas B. Robertson
. Despite his loss to Robertson, Derbigny was appointed Secretary of State of Louisiana
and served from 1821-1828.
In 1828, he ran for Governor again and this time defeated Thomas Butler
, his former supporter Bernard de Marigny
and Congressman Philemon Thomas
. The state Legislature confirmed his election over these 3 opponents. Derbigny was affiliated with the nascent National Republican
Party, an anti-Jackson
group.
In Derbigny's Inauguration speech, he urged internal improvements
which the legislature supported including: incorporation of a gas light company for New Orleans, several navigation companies for New Orleans and important bayous in the state, and the construction and repair of levees. On October 6, 1829, after 10 months in office, Governor Derbigny was thrown from a carriage on the West Bank of the Mississippi and died three days later in Gretna
. Governor Derbigny is buried in St. Louis Number 1 Cemetery in New Orleans.
Laon
Laon is the capital city of the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-History:The hilly district of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held strategic importance...
near Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, 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...
, the eldest son of Augustin Bourguignon d'Herbigny who was President of the Directoire de l'Aisne and Mayor of Laon, and Louise Angelique Blondela.
Derbigny studied law at Ste. Genevieve but fled France in 1791 during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. He arrived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and married Felicité Odile de Hault de Lassus with whom he would have five daughters and two sons.
He arrived in New Orleans, then a Spanish colony, in 1797 and by 1803 had been appointed Secretary of the Legislative Council. After the United States' annexation of the Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of America of of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S...
in 1803, Derbigny was one of the representatives of the new Americans in Washington seeking self-government for the Orleans Territory. His oration of July 4, 1804 also urges for the reopening of the slave trade.
As the territory was integrated into the United States, Derbigny opposed British common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
in Louisiana and defended the retention of civil law
Civil law (legal system)
Civil law is a legal system inspired by Roman law and whose primary feature is that laws are codified into collections, as compared to common law systems that gives great precedential weight to common law on the principle that it is unfair to treat similar facts differently on different...
practices established during the French and Spanish colonial colonial periods. He also lead a movement to establish the College of Orleans and served as Regent. In 1812, he was selected as Secretary of the Territorial Senate. He also served in Captain Chauveneau's Company of Cavalry in the Louisiana Militia.
From 1814-1820, Derbigny served as a Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court
Louisiana Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Louisiana is the highest court and court of last resort in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The modern Supreme Court, composed of seven justices, meets in the French Quarter of New Orleans....
. He was one of the principal drafters of the 1825 Civil Code of Louisiana, along with Edward Livingston
Edward Livingston
Edward Livingston was an American jurist and statesman. He was an influential figure in the drafting of the Louisiana Civil Code of 1825, a civil code based largely on the Napoleonic Code. He represented both New York, and later Louisiana in Congress and he served as the U.S...
, François Xavier Martin
Francois Xavier Martin
François Xavier Martin , was an American jurist and author, the first Attorney General of State of Louisiana, and longtime Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court. Born in France, he immigrated to North Carolina before the American Revolutionary War...
and Louis Moreau de Liset.
In 1821, Derbigny resigned from the Supreme Court of Louisiana to run unsuccessfully for Governor against Jean N. Destréhan
Jean N. Destréhan
Jean Noel Destréhan was a Creole politician in Louisiana and one-time owner of Destréhan Plantation, one of Louisiana's most famous antebellum historical landmarks. The city of Destrehan, Louisiana is named after him....
, Abner Duncan and Thomas B. Robertson
Thomas B. Robertson
Thomas Bolling Robertson was a member of the U. S. House of Representatives representing the state of Louisiana, the third Governor and the Attorney General of Louisiana, and a United States federal judge....
. Despite his loss to Robertson, Derbigny was appointed Secretary of State of Louisiana
Secretary of State of Louisiana
The Secretary of State of Louisiana is one of the elected constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The position was created by Article 4, Section 7 of the Louisiana Constitution.The current Secretary of State is Tom Schedler....
and served from 1821-1828.
In 1828, he ran for Governor again and this time defeated Thomas Butler
Thomas Butler (U. S. Representative)
Thomas Butler was a member of the U. S. House of Representatives representing the state of Louisiana. He served one and a half terms as a Democratic-Republican....
, his former supporter Bernard de Marigny
Bernard de Marigny
Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville, was a French-Creole American nobleman, playboy, politician, and President of the Louisiana Senate between 1822-1823.-Early life:...
and Congressman Philemon Thomas
Philemon Thomas
Philemon Thomas was a member of the U. S. House of Representatives representing the state of Louisiana. He served two terms as a Democrat ....
. The state Legislature confirmed his election over these 3 opponents. Derbigny was affiliated with the nascent National Republican
National Republican Party (United States)
The National Republicans were a political party in the United States. During the administration of John Quincy Adams , the president's supporters were referred to as Adams Men or Anti-Jackson. When Andrew Jackson was elected President of the United States in 1828, this group went into opposition...
Party, an anti-Jackson
Jacksonian democracy
Jacksonian democracy is the political movement toward greater democracy for the common man typified by American politician Andrew Jackson and his supporters. Jackson's policies followed the era of Jeffersonian democracy which dominated the previous political era. The Democratic-Republican Party of...
group.
In Derbigny's Inauguration speech, he urged internal improvements
Internal improvements
Internal improvements is the term used historically in the United States for public works from the end of the American Revolution through much of the 19th century, mainly for the creation of a transportation infrastructure: roads, turnpikes, canals, harbors and navigation improvements...
which the legislature supported including: incorporation of a gas light company for New Orleans, several navigation companies for New Orleans and important bayous in the state, and the construction and repair of levees. On October 6, 1829, after 10 months in office, Governor Derbigny was thrown from a carriage on the West Bank of the Mississippi and died three days later in Gretna
Gretna
-Places:In Scotland:*Gretna, Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway*Gretna GreenIn Canada:*Gretna, ManitobaIn the United States:*Gretna, Florida*Gretna, Louisiana*Gretna, Nebraska*Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania*Mount Gretna Heights, Pennsylvania...
. Governor Derbigny is buried in St. Louis Number 1 Cemetery in New Orleans.