Francisco San Maxent

Francisco Maximiliano de San Maxent La Roche (April 22, 1761 - November 25, 1825) was the interim governor of West Florida. He served four stints in the office of governor. He also commanded the Spanish forces in Mobile (1805-1807 and in 1811).

Biography Maximilien François de Saint-Maxent was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent and Elizabeth LaRoche. He was the fourth of nine siblings.

Saint Maxent joined the Spanish army as a young man. On May 4, 1795 whilst holding the rank of Captain, he was appointed as the commanding officer of the Third Battalion, Louisiana Fixed Infantry Regiment.

He was appointed commandant of Mobile on 16 July 1805. In 1807, while commanding Mobile, he got into a dispute with American commander Edmund P. Gaines at Fort Stoddert. San Maxent was commandant of Mobile until 30 August 1807. Shortly afterwards he returned to the post of commandant of Mobile, but he was replaced on 23 March 1811. Letters to and from him survive.