Antoine Dubuclet

Antoine Dubuclet (1810 – December 18, 1887) was the Republican state treasurer of Louisiana from 1868 to 1878. Before the Civil War, Dubuclet was one of the wealthiest African-Americans in the nation. After the war, he was the first person of African descent to hold the office of Louisiana Treasurer.

Early life

Dubuclet was born in Iberville Parish, Louisiana. He was the son of Antoine Dubuclet, Sr and Marie Felecite Gray. Both were free blacks; his father was part owner of Cedar Grove, a successful sugar plantation, which he had inherited from his parents, Joseph Antoine Dubuclet and Rosie Belly. Upon his father's death, his mother moved to New Orleans with her younger children; Dubuclet took over his father's responsibilities and assisted in managing the plantation which held over 70 slaves. In 1834, the plantation was divided between Dubuclet and his siblings.^[1][1][2]

Family

In the mid-1830s he met and married Claire Pollard, a wealthy free woman of color. This marriage lasted till her death in 1852. His successful management of both his and his wife's properties allowed him to acquire additional properties, included a plantation on the west bank of the Mississippi upriver from New Orleans. By 1860 he owned over 100 slaves and was considered the wealthiest free black slave owner in Louisiana.^[1][3] His first wife, Claire, died in 1852. They had nine children together, and sent them to France for their education. Several of his daughters remained there and married Frenchmen. Two of his sons received degrees in medicine. In the early 1860s, he remarried Mary Ann Walsh. They had three children.

Later Career

The Civil War devastated the sugar industry in Louisiana and impoverished Dubuclet along with his fellow planters.^[1]

Political career

In 1868, Dubuclet was nominated as the Republican candidate for State Treasurer. Later that year Dubuclet along with the entire Republican ticket won the election. Dubuclet took financial charge of a bankrupt state. Dubuclet along with other members of the state administration were successful in reducing the state's debt. He was joined in this work by two of his sons, who served as his clerks. Dubuclet was reelected both in 1870 and 1874. Dubuclet was the only office holder allowed to remain in office during the minor coup d'état, known as the Battle of Liberty Place that occurred in September 1874.^[4] Dubuclet survived an impeachment attempt in 1876 and did not seek reelection in 1878.^[1]

Death & Legacy

Dubuclet died on December 18, 1887 in Iberville Parish. His remains were transported and interred in the family tomb in St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 located in New Orleans.^[1] In 1990 Dubuclet was inducted into the Louisiana Black History Hall of Fame.^[5]

References

1. "Aspects of the family and public life of Antoine Dubuclet: Louisiana's black state treasurer, 1868-1878," The Journal of Negro History, Spring, 1981.
2. Walker, Juliet E.K (1999). Encyclopedia of African American business history. Greenwood Press. p. 491.
3. Sternberg, Mary Ann (November 2001). Along the river road: Past and present on Louisiana's historic byway. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. p. 254. ISBN 0-8071-2730-2.
4. "The Louisiana outrages: Nature of the calm in New Orleans," The New York Times, September 17, 1874.
5. "30 honored in new Louisiana Black History Hall of Fame," The Advocate, February 23, 1990.