Michel Vidal (October 1, 1824 - October 20, 1895) was aU.S. representative fromLouisiana.

Born in the city ofCarcassonne,Languedoc,France, Vidal completed university-level studies in France before emigrating to theRepublic 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 theNew YorkCourrier des États-Unis and the New OrleansPicayune (now theTimes-Picayune). At the close of theCivil War he was appointed by GeneralPhilip Sheridan a registrar for the city ofNew Orleans. In 1867, he moved toOpelousas, Louisiana, where he founded and edited theSaint 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constitutional convention of 1867 and 1868 (this convention wrote the "Reconstruction Constitution" which was in turn rescinded after white Democrats again gained control of Louisiana government) after 1876.^[1]

Upon readmission of Louisiana to representation in Congress, Vidal was elected, fromLouisiana's 4th congressional district (which included Opelousas), as aRepublican to theFortieth United States Congress, (July 18, 1868 – March 3, 1869), and was effectively in office until 1870.^[2]He was appointed a United States commissioner under the convention concluded withPeru in 1868 for the adjustment of claims of citizens of either country.On his leaving Congress, Vidal was appointed by PresidentUlysses Grant as United States consul atTripoli, Libya, where he served from April 5, 1870, to October 12, 1876. He died inMontreal.

• 1824 births
• 1895 deaths
• French emigrants to the United States
• 19th-century American diplomats
• 19th-century American newspaper editors
• Consuls for the United States
• Republican Party United States representatives from Louisiana
• 19th-century United States representatives

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