Damien Marchessault

Damien Marchessault (or Marchesseau) (April 1, 1818 – January 20, 1868) was Mayor of Los Angeles, California from May 9, 1859 to May 9, 1860 and then again from December 27, 1860 to January 7, 1861. Marchessault assumed the office one last time interrupting Cristobal Aguilar's first term in office for three months.

Born in St.-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada, Marchessault was described as a carousing onetime New Orleans gambler.

During his term as Water Overseer of Los Angeles, Marchessault and a partner laid wooden water pipes that burst and turned streets into sinkholes.

Struggling with mounting debts, he slipped into an empty Los Angeles City Hall Council chamber on Jan. 20, 1868, and shot himself to death.

[edit] References

Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials: 1850—1938, Compiled under Direction of Municipal Reference Library City Hall, Los Angeles March 1938 (Reprinted 1966)

Preceded by John G. Nichols	Mayor of Los Angeles, California 1859—1860	Succeeded by Henry Mellus
Preceded by William Woodworth	Mayor of Los Angeles, California 1861—1865	Succeeded by Jose Marcarel
Preceded by Oliver Stearns	Water Overseer of Los Angeles, California May 12, 1866—May 8, 1867	Succeeded by Jesus Cruz
Preceded by Cristobal Aguilar	Mayor of Los Angeles, California May 8, 1867—August 8, 1867	Succeeded by Cristobal Aguilar
Preceded by Cristobal Aguilar	Water Overseer of Los Angeles, California August 8, 1867—January 20, 1868	Succeeded by Elijah Bettis