Jean Noel Destréhan

Jean Noel Destréhan (* 1754 in New Orleans, † October 8, 1823 in Destrehan, Louisiana ) was an American politician. He was one of the first two U.S. senators from the state of Louisiana, took his seat but never officially true.

After his birth, Jean Noel Destréhan moved with his parents first to France, where he also received his education. He returned in 1771 back to Louisiana, which at that time was still a divided colony of Spain and the United Kingdom. There he married in 1792 and acquired a plantation in St. Charles Parish, which was later than Destréhan Plantation known and is now listed as a cultural monument on the National Register of Historic Places.

Destréhan came as a merchant and planter some prosperity. He also won political influence and became a member of the legislature of the Louisiana Territory, the legislative council and was its president in 1806 and 1811, he acted. The inclusion of the territory to the United States he faced critical; however he took part in the Constitutional Convention and helped to draft the constitution of the new state.

After joining the Union Destréhan was chosen by the state Legislature as one of the first two U.S. senators of Louisiana; second representative of the State was Allan B. Magruder. His term began on September 3, 1812, but he already on 1 October of the same year back, without having been formally admitted to the Senate. He remained active in politics, however, and was from 1812 to 1817 the Senate of Louisiana.

However, its concentration was primarily his sugar plantation. There he led a strict control over his slaves, however, already in 1811 rebelled against the brutal methods and participated in the uprising of the German Coast, the largest slave revolt in American history. After the suppression of the rebellion 18 slaves were sentenced at a tribunal on the Destréhan Plantation to death.

The city of Destrehan in St. Charles Parish is named after Jean Noel Destréhan.