Beautiful Crescent: A History of New Orleans (36 page)

Morial, Ernest “Dutch” (1929-89).
First black mayor of New Orleans, elected in 1977. In early political life, he was the first black assistant in the US Attorney’s office, the first black member of the legislature since Reconstruction, the first black juvenile court judge, and the first black Circuit Court of Appeals judge. Also, he was the first mayor to live on the historic Bayou St. John during his administration.

Morphy, Paul Charles (1837-84).
Considered to be one of the greatest chess players of all time. Born in the house his grandfather built, later called the Beauregard House because of the general’s term of residence there.

Morrison, deLesseps S., Sr. (1912-64).
Mayor of New Orleans from 1946-61, when he resigned to take the post of Ambassador to the Organization of American States, to which he was appointed by President Kennedy. Morrison and his son were killed in a plane crash en route to Mexico in May 1964.

Morton, Ferdinand La Mothe “Jelly Roll” (1885-1941).
Reputed inventor of jazz. One of the jazz immortals. Played piano in Storyville for one dollar per night plus tips. His life is documented more than that of any other musician in jazz history. Jelly Roll and His Red Hot Peppers has been considered the peak of jazz-band excellence.

Newcomb, Josephine Louise Le Monnier (1816-1901).
Founded Sophie Newcomb College as a memorial to her daughter, Sophie Newcomb. She provided contributions totaling $2.8 million.

Ochsner, Alton (1896-1981).
Professor at Tulane from 1927-61. Served on staff of several hospitals and founded Ochsner Foundation Hospital. Spearheaded drive against smoking as a cause of lung cancer.

Pinchback, Pinckney Benton Stewart (1837-1921).
Mulatto politician who became Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana during Reconstruction and acted as governor from 1872-73. He was the only black ever to serve as governor of Louisiana during that period.

Plimsoll, Samuel (1824-98).
Became the leading advocate for safe loading conditions for ship operations in 1867. The Plimsoll mark, which he created, is a series of lines to be placed on both sides of ships, signifying the Load Line allowed for Tropical Water, Fresh Water, Tropical Zones, Summer, Winter, and Winter North Atlantic.

Pollock, Oliver (1737-1823).
Irish-born merchant who spent many years in New Orleans and rendered financial assistance to the American cause during the Revolutionary War. Later, he became a US Commercial Agent with diplomatic standing.

Poydras, Julien de Lallande (1746-1824).
Trader, philanthropist, and poet whose charitable works included the establishment of dowry funds for impoverished Pointe Coupee and West Baton Rouge Parish women. He was active in politics and represented Louisiana in the legislature.

Prima, Louis (1911-78).
Nationally known band leader, singer, trumpet player, composer, recording artist, and television and movie performer.

Ripley, Eliza Moore (1832-1912).
Wrote entertainingly about life in New Orleans in the 1840s and 1850s.

Rivers, Pearl (Mrs. George Nicholson) (1849-96).
First woman in New Orleans to earn her living on a newspaper,
the
Picayune,
and the first woman publisher of an important newspaper in the United States. Founded the organization that grew into the Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty to Animals.

Rummel, Archbishop Joseph Francis, (1876-1964).
Born in Baden, Germany, he first served as Papal Chamberlain. In 1935, he was appointed Archbishop of New Orleans. Buried in crypt of St. Louis Cathedral.

Saxon, Lyle (1891-1946).
Started writing short stories in 1926. Wrote books about New Orleans, beginning with
Father Mississippi.
Born in Baton Rouge, Saxon was a bon vivant, typical plantation gentleman, conversationalist, artist with a jigger of vermouth, and writer without an enemy.

Schulte, Archbishop Francis Bible (1926- )
Born in Philadelphia. Appointed member of President Bush’s Education Policy Advisory Committee in 1989, member of Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education in 1989, and twelfth archbishop of New Orleans in 1988.

Slidell, John (1793-1871).
Prominent in state and national affairs in the 1850s. Minister to France under the Confederacy.

Soulé, George (1834-1926)
. Mathematician and educator. Established first commercial college in New Orleans.

Soulé, George (1834-1926).
Mathematician and educator. Established first commercial college in New Orleans.

Stern, Edgar B. (1886-1959).
Member of the Board of Administrators of
Charity Hospital, the State Welfare Board, the Louisiana Development Commission, and the Board of Administrators of Tulane University. Founder of the Bureau of Governmental Research.

Stern, Edith Rosenwald (Mrs. Edgar B.) (1895-1980).
Along with her husband, named outstanding philanthropists in New Orleans in 1977 for the first century of the
States-Item
’s existence. Since her death in 1980, Longue Vue, her home, has operated as a museum of Decorative Arts and Horticulture.

Tallant, Robert (1909-57).
Author who wrote on subjects concerning New Orleans and Louisiana, including
Gumbo Ya-Ya
and
The Pirate Lafitte and the Battle of New Orleans,
which won the Literary Award of the Louisiana Library Association in 1952. Revised the New Orleans City Guide.

Taylor, Zachary (1784-1850).
Migrated from Kentucky to Louisiana and achieved fame in the Mexican War. Became the twelfth President of the United States.

Toole, John Kennedy (1937-69).
Author who won the Pulitzer prize for the
Confederacy of Dunces,
published ten years after his suicide, which is believed to have been brought on by his failure to obtain literary recognition.

Touro, Judah (1775-1854).
Gave liberally to numerous charities and buildings during his lifetime, many of which now bear his name, including Touro-Shakespeare Home, Touro Infirmary, and Touro Synagogue in New Orleans.

Treigle, Norman (1927-75).
Considered to be one of the great actors in opera. Was a leading male star of the New York Opera with more than fifty roles to his credit. Frequent co-star with Beverly Sills.

Tulane, Paul (1801-87).
Donated more than $1 million to the University of Louisiana (now the Tulane University of Louisiana).

Vaccaro, Joseph (1855-19??).
With his brothers, established the Standard Fruit Company, whose ships sailed the Gulf and Caribbean between New Orleans and Central America.

Warmoth, Henry Clay (1842-1931).
Dominated Carpetbag regime as Reconstruction Governor from 1868-72. Author of
War, Politics, and Reconstruction: Stormy Days in Louisiana.

White, Edward Douglass, Jr. (1844-1921).
Entered Confederate Army at age eighteen. Served as Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, U.S. senator, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Wilson, Samuel, Jr. (1911-93).
Architectural historian and co-author of
New Orleans Architecture, Volumes I and IV; Louisiana Purchase; the St. Louis Cemeteries of New Orleans;
and other publications.

Wood, Albert Baldwin (1879-1956).
Electrical engineer. Invented twelve-foot screw pumps capable of draining ten million cubic feet of water out of below-sea-level New Orleans every year, which ultimately prevented flooding and made swamps habitable.

Wright, Sophie Bell (1866-1912).
Teacher and humanitarian responsible for night schools and many social service agencies in New Orleans. First woman to win the
Daily Picayune
’s
Loving Cup.

You, Dominique (1775-1830).
A member of Lafitte’s “hellish banditti.” Distinguished himself in the Battle of New Orleans and settled down to become a law-abiding citizen.

Governors of Louisiana

Governors of Louisiana as a French Colony

1699 Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d’Iberville (founder)

1699-1700 M. de Sauvolle

1701-13 Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville

1713-16 Antoine de La Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac

1716-17 Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville

1717-18 Jean Michel, Sieur de L’Epinay

1718-24 Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville

1725-26 Pierre Sidrac Dugué de Boisbriant

1727-33 Étienne de Périer

1733-43 Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville

1743-53 Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal

1753-63 Louis Billouart, Chevalier de Kerlerec

1763-65 Jean-Jacques Blaise d’Abbadie

1765-66 Charles Phillipe Aubry

Governors of Louisiana as a Spanish Colony

1766-68 Antonio de Ulloa

1769-70 Alexander O’Reilly

1770-77 Luis de Unzaga y Amezaga

1777-85 Bernardo de Galvez

1785-91 Esteban Rodriguez Mir
ó
y Sabater

1791-97 Francisco Luis Hector, Baron de Carondelet et Noyelles

1797-99 Manuel Luis Gayoso de Lemos y Amorin

1799-1801 Sebastian Calvo de la Puerta y O’Fariel, Marquis de Casa Calvo

1801-03 Juan Manuel de Salcedo

Governor of Louisiana before the Louisiana Purchase

1803
November 30-December 20.
Pierre Clément de Laussat

Governor of Louisiana as a Territory

1803-12 William Charles Cole Claiborne

Governors of Louisiana as a State

1812-16 William Charles Cole Claiborne

1816-20 Jacques Phillippe Villeré

1820-24 Thomas Bolling Robertson

1824 Henry Schuyler Thibodeaux

1824-28 Henry S. Johnson

1828-29 Pierre Auguste Bourguigon Derbigny

1829-30 Armand Julie Beauvais

1830-31 Jacques Dupre

1831-35 Andre Bienvenu Roman

1835-39 Edward Douglass White

1839-43 Andre Bienvenu Roman

1843-46 Alexander Mouton

1846-50 Isaac Johnson

1850-53 Joseph Marshall Walker

1853-56 Paul Octave Hébert

1856-60 Robert Charles Wickliffe

1860-64 Thomas Overton Moore

1862-64 George F. Shepley (military governor within Union lines)

1864-65 Henry Watkins Allen

1864-65 Michael Hahn (elected governor within Union lines, resigned)

1865-67 James Madison Wells (succeeded Hahn within Union lines)

1867-68 Benjamin Franklin Flanders

1868 Joshua Baker

1868-72 Henry Clay Warmoth

1872-73 P. B. S. Pinchback

1873 John McEreny (elected, but counted out)

1873-77 William Pitt Kellogg

1877 Stephen B. Packard

1877-80 Francis Tillou Nicholls

1880-81 Louis Alfred Wiltz

1881-88 Samuel Douglas McEnery

1888-92 Francis Tillou Nicholls

1892-1900 Murphy James Foster

1900-4 William Wright Heard

1904-8 Newton Crain Blanchard

1908-12 Jared Young Sanders

1912-16 Luther E. Hall

1916-20 Ruffin G. Pleasant

1920-24 John M. Parker

1924-26 Huey L. Fuqua

1926-28 Oramel H. Simpson

1928-32 Henry P. Long

1932 Alvin O. King

1932-36 Oscar K. Allen

1936 James A. Noe

1936-39 Richard Webster Leche

1939-40 Earl K. Long

1940-44 Sam Houston Jones

1944-48 Jimmie H. Davis

1948-52 Earl K. Long

1952-56 Robert F. Kennon

1956-60 Earl K. Long

1960-64 Jimmie H. Davis

1964-72 John J. McKeithen

1972-80 Edwin W. Edwards

1980-84 David C. Treen

1984-88 Edwin W. Edwards

1988-92 Charles Elson “Buddy” Roemer III

1992-96 Edwin W. Edwards

1996-2004 Murphy J. “Mike” Foster

2004-8 Kathleen Babineaux Blanco

2008- Bobby Jindal

Mayors of New Orleans

Served in the Cabildo under American Domination

1803-4 Étienne de Boré

1804 Pierre Petit (succeeded as Mayor Pro-Tem)

Served the City of New Orleans, Incorporated February 17, 1805

1804-5 James Pitot de Beaujardière

1805-7 John Watkins

1807-12 James J. Mather

1812-15 Nicholas Girod

1815-20 Augustin Macarty

1820-28 Louis Philippe de Roffignac

1828-38 Denis Prieur

1838-40 Charles Genois

1840-42 William Freret

1842-43 Denis Prieur

1843-44 William Freret

1844-46 Joseph Edgard Montegut

1846-54 Abial Daily Crossman

Served in City Hall (Gallier Hall)

1854-56 John L. Lewis

1856-58 Charles M. Waterman

1858-60 Gerard Stith

1860-62 John T. Monroe

Served as United States Military Mayors (All Acting)

May 1862-July 1862 George T. Shepley

July 1862-August 1862 Godfrey Weitzel

August 1862 Jonas H. French

August 1862-September 1862 Godfrey Weitzel

October 1862-January 1863 Henry C. Deming

January 1863-September 1863 James F. Miller

September 1863-October 1863 Edward Henry Durell

November 1863-February 1864 James F. Miller

February 1864-March 1865 Stephen Hoyt

March 1864-May 1865 Hugh Kennedy

May 1865-June 1865 Samuel Miller Quincy

June 1865-March 1866 Hugh Kennedy

March 1866 J. A. D. Rozier

March 1866-May 1866 George Clark

Served as Mayors of New Orleans

1866-67 John T. Monroe

1867-1868 Edward Heath

1868-70 John R. Conway

1870-72 Benjamin P. Flanders

1872-74 Louis A. Wiltz

1874-76 Charles J. Leeds

1876-78 Edward Pilsbury

1878-80 Isaac W. Patton

1880-82 Joseph Ansbeteui Shakspeare

1882-84 William J. Behan

1884-88 Joseph Valsin Guillotte

1888-92 Joseph A. Shakspeare

1892-96 John Fitzpatrick

1896-1900 Walter C. Flower

1900-04 Paul Capdeville

1904-20 Martin Behrman

1920-25 Andrew J. McShane

1925-26 Martin Behrman

1926-30 Arthur J. O’Keefe

1930-June 1936 T. Semmes Walmsley

June 1963-July 1936 A. Miles Pratt

July 1936 Fred A. Earhart

July 1936-August 1936 Jesse S. Cave

August 1936-46 Robert S. Maestri

1946-61 deLesseps Story Morrison

Served in the new City Hall, Dedicated 1957

1961-70 Victor Hugo Schiro

1970-78 Maurice “Moon” Landrieu

1978-86 Ernest N. Morial

1986-94 Sidney J. Barthelemy

1994-2002 Marc H. Morial

2002-10 C. Ray Nagin

2010- Mitchell “Mitch” Landrieu