Pierre Derbigny

Pierre Derbigny (June 30, 1769 – October 6, 1829) was a French born judge and politician who served as the sixth governor of Louisiana. He was an advocate of integrating Louisiana into the United States and played a central role in the establishment of Louisiana's legal system.

Early life Pierre Augustin Bourguignon Derbigny was born in Laon, France, on June 30, 1769, the eldest son of Louise Angélique Blondela and Augustin Bourguignon d'Herbigny. His father was President of the Directoire de l'Aisne and Mayor of Laon.

Derbigny studied law at Ste. Genevieve but fled France in 1791 during the French Revolution. He first went to Saint-Domingue, and then arrived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and finally settled in New Orleans, then part of the Spanish Colony. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, he became private secretary to Etienne Bore, first mayor of New Orleans, and was appointed Secretary of the Legislative Council. In the same year Governor Claiborne appointed him official interpreter of languages for the territory.

Career Derbigny was one of the representatives who travelled to Washington D.C. seeking self-government for the Orleans Territory. The U.S. Congress approved and in 1805 a territorial legislature was established in Louisiana which included an elected lower house. While in Washington, he also protested against the 1804 closing of the slave trade.

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.

He resigned from the Legislature to become a justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court. His nomination was first rejected by the Senate, but was afterwards returned and confirmed at the Senate's request.