Alexander Mouton
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Alexander Mouton (November 19, 1804 - February 12, 1885) was a United States Senator and Governor of Louisiana.
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[edit] Early Life
He was born in Attakapas district (now Lafayette Parish) into a wealthy plantation owning French Creole family. He pursued classical studies and graduated from Georgetown College. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1825, and commenced practice in Lafayette Parish.
[edit] Political career
From 1827 to 1832 was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, serving as speaker in 1831 - 1832. He was a presidential elector on the Democratic ticket in 1828, 1832, and 1836, and was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1830 to the Twenty-second Congress. In 1836 he was again a member of the State house of representatives.
Mouton was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Alexander Porter, was reelected to the full term, and served from January 12, 1837, until his resignation on March 1, 1842. While in the Senate he was chairman of the Committee on Agriculture (Twenty-sixth Congress).
From 1842 to 1846, Mouton was Governor of Louisiana.
[edit] Civil War
He was president of the State secession convention in 1861 and an unsuccessful candidate to the Confederate Senate. Actively involved in railroads, he was president of the Southwestern Railroad Convention.
He was an active supporter of the Confederacy, devoting a large amount of his wealth to the cause. His son Alfred Mouton became a general and died at the Battle of Mansfield. His daughter married Confederate Major General Franklin Gardner, whose older sister became his own second wife.
[edit] Death
He died near Vermillionville (now Lafayette) in 1885. He is buried in St. John's Cemetery.
[edit] References
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Congressional Bioguide's Guide to Research Collections for Alexander Mouton
- Information from the Louisiana Secretary of State
[edit] External links
| Governors of Louisiana |  |
|---|---|
| Claiborne • Villeré • Robertson • Thibodaux • H. Johnson • Derbigny • Beauvais • Dupre • Roman • White • Roman • Mouton • I. Johnson • Walker • Hebert • Wickliffe • Moore • Warmouth • Pinchback • J. McEnery • Kellogg • Nicholls • Wiltz • S. McEnery • Nicholls • Foster • Heard • Blanchard • Sanders • Hall • Pleasant • Parker • Fuqua • Simpson • H. Long • King • O. Allen • Noe • Leche • E. Long • Jones • Davis • E. Long • Kennon • E. Long • Davis • McKeithen • Edwards • Treen • Edwards • Roemer • Edwards • Foster Jr. • Blanco |
