Pierre Derbigny
| Pierre Derbigny | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 6th Governor of Louisiana | |
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In office December 15, 1828 – October 6, 1829 |
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| Preceded by | Henry S. Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Armand Beauvais |
| Secretary of State of Louisiana | |
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In office 1820–1828 |
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| Preceded by | Etienne Mazureau |
| Succeeded by | George A. Waggaman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 30, 1769 Laon, France |
| Died | October 6, 1829 (aged 60) Gretna, Louisiana |
| Political party | National Republican, Whig |
| Spouse(s) | Felicité Odile de Hault de Lassus |
Pierre Augustin Charles Bourguignon Derbigny (June 30, 1769 – October 6, 1829) was the sixth Governor of Louisiana. Born in 1769, at Laon, France, the eldest son of Augustin Bourguignon d'Herbigny who was President of the Directoire de l'Aisne and Mayor of Laon, and Louise Angélique Blondela.
Derbigny studied law at Ste. Genevieve but fled France in 1791 during the French Revolution. He arrived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and married Felicité Odile de Hault de Lassus with whom he would have five daughters and two sons.
He arrived in New Orleans, then a Spanish colony, in 1797 and by 1803 had been appointed Secretary of the Legislative Council. After the United States' annexation of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Derbigny was one of the representatives of the new Americans in Washington seeking self-government for the Orleans Territory. His oration of July 4, 1804, also urges for the reopening of the slave trade.
As the territory was integrated into the United States, Derbigny opposed British common law in Louisiana and defended the retention of civil law practices established during the French and Spanish colonial periods. Following the Governance Act of 1804 that set up Louisiana's territorial government, Derbigny, along with Jean Noel Destréhan and Pierre Sauve, delivered to Washington, D.C., the protest created by citizens speaking out against this Congressional Act. This complaint was entitled, "Remonstrance of the People of Louisiana against the Political System Adopted by Congress for Them," and was ultimately presented to President Thomas Jefferson by the three men from Louisiana.
Pierre Derbigny also led a movement to establish the College of Orleans and served as Regent. In 1812, he was selected as Secretary of the Territorial Senate. He also served in Captain Chauveneau's Company of cavalry in the Louisiana Militia.
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