Alexandre Mouton

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Alexandre Mouton
Title: 6th Premier Président
 Term in office: 1 Vendémiaire LXXVI–30 Fructidor LXXXII
 Predecessor: André Bienvenu Roman
 Successor: François Thibodaux
Birth:  
 Date: 27 Brumaire XIII (18 November 1804)
 Place: Côte de Châtaigne, Louisianne
Death:  
 Date: 29 Ventôse XCIII (20 March, 1885)
 Place: Île Copal, Côte de Châtaigne
Profession: Politician, Lawyer, Plantation Owner, Banker
Political Party: ()
Relgious Affiliation: Catholic

Alexander Mouton, is often viewed as one of the less-influential first presidents of Louisianne. While Mouton's influence was not far-reaching in terms of international politics, he did influence Louisianne very deeply.

Youth

Alexandre Mouton was born 27 Brumaire XIII (18 November 1804) to the west of New Orleans in the Côte de Châtaigne. As the 6th child of Jean Mouton, Alexandre Mouton grew up on his family's plantation of Bayou Carencro, often visiting Vermilionville, which was founded by his father.

After graduating from Georgetown College in Ter Mair, Mouton returned to Louisianne, where he served as an assistant in the legal offices of Charles Antoine and Edouard Simon. He worked for them until he was able to pass the bar and open his own practice in his home of Vermilionville.

Adulthood and Early Political Service

A short three years after he opened his practice in 1825, Mouton was elected as a Member of Parliament, serving in the Saint-Ongean Prefectoral parliament from 1827-1837. While serving in the Parliament he became acquainted with Dupré Rousseau, the elder statesman from nearby Rayne. Despite the political upheaval of the Summer Revolution that gripped Louisianne, the Saint-Ongean parliament remained active and was deeply involved with the Constitutional Convention that established the modern government.

In 1828 Mouton was married to Zelia Rousseau, at which time he retired from law practice to farm the plantation of Île Copal. As a plantation owner, Mouton became a sugar planter. All five children born to Alexandre and Zelia were born at the Île Copal Plantation.

While serving as an MP, his father-in-law, Dupré Rousseau was asked to serve as the newly created office of Préfet of Saint-Onge The disputes that arose between Rousseau and Mouton are the thing of legend. At the elections of 1837, Mouton retired from service to care for his ailing wife, who passed away at the end of the year.

In 1838 he marries Emma Charpentier, who will give birth to four children. In the same year Mouton votes to establish the Banque d'Union Louisiannais, which enables credit to be given to farmers in the rural areas of Saint-Onge. In 1839 he was asked to oversee the Vermilionville branch, and he accepts. In 1840 he is asked to complete Alexis Portier's term at the National Assembly, which he accepted.

Portrait of Alexandre Mouton.

The economic Crisis of 1842 resulted in most of the non-state run banks failing, greatly curtailing the economic sector. A Vote of No-Confidence was levied against and passes against Esaïe LeFèvre in 1843, and Alexandre Mouton is voted in as the new Prefect of Saint-Onge.

Prefect of Saint-Onge

As Prefect of Saint-Onge, Alexandre Mouton was able to balance the operating budget, a feat which no prior leader of Louisianne had been able to do. Reducing expenditures and selling state assets Mouton was able to meet the bond requirements and other debts that Saint-Onge had. He introduced legislation to ensure that the republic would not be involved in future banking scandals. He also helped solidify the role of the prefecture in primary education. Through this legislation, Tulane University was established in New Orleans. He retired to his plantation at the end of his term in an LV (1846), but returned to replace Paul Octave Hebert who was running for the office of First-President in 1853.

When his term completed in 1854, Mouton retired, focusing his attentions on his plantation at Île Copal. After six years of retirement, he is asked to return to public life, and run for the First Presidency.

First Presidency

The seven years of Mouton's first presidency were passed in quiet. His son was killed in a military accident in 1862. Following his term of office, Alexandre Mouton returned to his plantation. In March of 1885 he died of complications from pneumonia.


Preceded by:
André Bienvenu Roman
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Leadership of Louisianne
Succeeded by:
François Thibodaux
Preceded by:
Esaïe LeFèvre
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Prefect of Saint-Onge
Succeeded by:
Paul Octave Hebert
Preceded by:
Paul Octave Hebert
Fno.jpg
Prefect of Saint-Onge
Succeeded by:
Unknown