Pierre Menard

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Pierre Menard (1766-1844) was a fur trader and U.S. political figure. Menard was a member of the Indiana territorial legislature, 1803-1809, and a member of the Illinois territorial legislature in 1812.

Illinois Territory was a frontier region of the United States that was descended from the Illinois Country, a section of the French colony of Louisiana. Upon the admission of Illinois as a state in 1818, the population of the new state was divided between French-speaking and English-speaking citizens. In an example of ticket-balancing, Menard became the state's first lieutenant governor, serving from 1818-1822 with the first governor, Shadrach Bond.

As a symbol of the waning power of the new state's French-American citizens, the first Illinois General Assembly decided in 1820 to move the state capital from Kaskaskia, Menard's home town, to Vandalia.

Menard left office in 1822 and returned to private life. He died in 1844 and was buried at Fort Kaskaskia, near his house.

Menard County, Illinois is named for the Lieutenant Governor. His house, near Chester, Illinois, is preserved as the Pierre Menard Home State Historic Site.

[edit] External links

Pierre Menard Home State Historic Site: [1]

[edit] References

• This article incorporates facts obtained from The Political Graveyard.