Arnaud Beauvais | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 7th Governor of Louisiana | |
| In office 6 October 1829 – 14 January 1830 | |
| Preceded by | Pierre Derbigny |
| Succeeded by | Jacques Dupre |
| President of the Louisiana Senate | |
| In office 1827–1830 | |
| Preceded by | Henry S. Thibodaux |
| Succeeded by | Jacques Dupré |
| Member of theLouisiana Senate | |
| In office 1823–1830 | |
| Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives | |
| In office 1820–1822 | |
| Preceded by | David C. Ker |
| Succeeded by | André B. Roman |
| Member of theLouisiana House of Representatives | |
| In office 1814–1822 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1783-09-06)September 6, 1783 |
| Died | November 18, 1843(1843-11-18) (aged 60) |
| Political party | Whig,Democratic Republican |
| Spouse | Louise Delphine Labatut |
Arnaud Julie Beauvais (September 6, 1783 – November 18, 1843), also known asArmand Beauvais, orArnaud Jules Beauvais, was theseventh Governor of Louisiana, as well as member and Speaker of theLouisiana House of Representatives, and member and President of theLouisiana State Senate. His governorship oversaw little change, aside from the transition of the capital of Louisiana being moved fromNew Orleans toDonaldsonville. He worked as a merchant and plantation owner, as well.
Arnaud Beauvais was born on September 6, 1783, inPointe Coupee Parish to slaveholding, wealthy, parents Pierre Charles St. James Beauvais and Marie Françoise Richer. He was the youngest of eight siblings and received limited education in the form of private tutoring.[1] By 1806, he purchased a plantation from his widowed mother and a slave. His plantation included eleven arpents (2,112 feet) of frontage land on theMississippi River.[2] In 1810, he married Louise Delphine Labatut.[3][4][5]
A French Louisianian, he wasCatholic.
His first political role came about whenWilliam C. C. Claiborne named him theJustice of the peace of Pointe Coupee Parish in 1810. Shortly thereafter, he became an administrators of the Point Coupee school district. His career continued, and he, a supporter ofJohn Quincy Adams, soon thereafter was elected into the Louisiana House of Representatives, serving in 1814, 1816, and 1818. He then took a short break, before returning in 1821 to serve as theSpeaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1821 to 1823. During his tenure as Speaker of the House, he also ran for State Senate office as aWhig, being elected in 1822. He would soon thereafter serve asPresident of the Louisiana State Senate from 1827 to 1830, but was soon thereafter required to serve as the Governor.[3][6][2]
After his governorship, he served on the House from 1833 to 1834 after the resignation of a Representative Chenevert.
As President of the Senate, Arnaud was next in line to governorship. This came when GovernorPierre Derbigny was thrown from a carriage after ten months in office, dying from injuries sustained.
Under Beauvais, the Louisiana capital was moved from New Orleans to Donaldsonville. His three-month period as acting Governor ended when his bid for reelection as Governor during thespecial election of 1830 failed. He only ended up receiving 18% of the vote. This campaign was financed using a loan, which he eventually had to pay off, leading to financial woes and the selling of his estate in 1839.[5]
Arnaud Beauvais died in his New Orleans home on 18 November 1843. He is buried inSaint Louis Cemetery No. 2.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives Armand Beauvais 1820–1822 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Louisiana 1829–1830 | Succeeded by |
