Maximilian F. Bonzano

Maximilian Ferdinand Bonzano (March 22, 1821 – May 23, 1894), was a German-born American government official, politician, and physician in Louisiana. He chaired the committee on emancipation in Louisiana during the American Civil War. Bonzano was elected to the U.S. Congress representing the first district of New Orleans in 1864, but was not allowed to take his seat. He was morally opposed to slavery and was part of the Republican party. Max Bonzano, and M.F. Bonzano.

Early life and family Bonzano was born on March 22, 1821, in Ebingen, Kingdom of Württemberg (now in Baden-Württemberg, Germany). Both Hubert and Maximilian were described as having Union Army sympathies. In 1843, he became a student resident of Charity Hospital.

In 1848, Bonzano was appointed by President James K. Polk to the New Orleans Mint as a melter and refiner.

During the war Bonzano felt a stronger sense of national allegiance and duty, and started to occupy other government leadership roles. An emancipation convention with delegates was formed by Banks in order navigate the intricate social and economic problems in Louisiana's Reconstruction era. The House of Representatives chairman from Massachusetts, Henry L. Dawes was in agreement but Bonzano was not able to take his official seat after an assault by Alexander Pope Field and his penknife of Hon. William D. Kelley of Pennsylvania. The news of this event with political violence was nationwide.