Francisco Luis Héctor de Carondelet

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Francisco Luis Hector, barón de Carondelet (1748-1807) was an administrator of Flemish descent in the employ of the Spanish Empire.

He was born in Noyelles, Flanders. Carondelet was named governor of El Salvador in 1789, and was a Knight of Malta.

After this he was the governor of the Spanish colonies of Louisiana and West Florida from 1791 to 1797. The Carondelet Canal in New Orleans, Louisiana was constructed on his orders and was named after him.

He intrigued with western communities, notably Kentucky, for the purpose of detaching them from the Union. His purpose was to thwart the policy of the United States to secure unchallenged access to the Mississippi River, a tendency which made Spanish colonial officials fear for the safety of Louisiana and New Spain. The movement came to an end with the ratification (1795) of Pinckney's Treaty.

After his term in Louisiana Carondelet served as governor general of Quito from 1799 through his death in 1807.

[edit] Things named after him

In addition to the Carondelet Canal, the city of New Orleans named Carondelet Street after the former governor.

Carondelet, Missouri was named after him.

Carondelet Farm in San Diego, California which bred 1999 Champion racehorse Artax (winner of 1999 Breeders' Cup Sprint) was named after Carondelet Street in New Orleans.