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Gambit > bestofneworleans.com > OCTOBER 26 > 2010
Specialty Sandwiches, Hamburgers & Poboys
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ROYAL BEAST - Roast Beef, Turkey & Ham fully dressed on French Bread TRADITIONAL CLUB - Turkey, Ham, Cheese, Tomato, Bacon, Mayo on Whole Wheat Bread CAFE MARIGNY #1 - The Original House Favorite! Oven Roasted Turkey, Cucumbers, Avacado, Sprouts & Havarti Cheese on Multi-Grain Toast
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Questions for Blake: askblake@gambitweekly.com
HEY BLAKE, WHAT IS THE ODD STATUE OF BIENVILLE IN THE FRENCH QUARTER WITH AN INDIAN ON IT, AND WHAT SIGNIFICANCE DOES BIENVILLE HOLD FOR NEW ORLEANS? STELLA VAN HORN
DEAR STELLA, Jean Baptiste LeMoyne de Bienville founded our fair city. It was not easy to tame the wilds of America in the 18th century, but France had plenty of men who hoped to make their fortunes in the New World. The statue you mention was sculpted by artist Angela Gregory in 1955 for the Louisiana Purchase Sesquicentennial Commission. The bronze statue originally was placed near the Union Passenger Terminal, but in November 1966 it was moved to Bienville Place, the triangular park between North Peters and Decatur streets at Conti Street. The work shows Bienville in colonial attire. Seated to his left is a Native American (the land upon which New Orleans was built belonged to the Chitimacha when he arrived). Standing to his left is Father Athanase, a Recollect monk. The statue commemorates the founding of New Orleans and places the date at 1717, but other sources say the city was officially founded in May 1718. Bienville was born in Montreal, Canada, on Feb. 23, 1680. When he was 18, he set out with his older brother Iberville to found a colony for France at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Iberville chose Biloxi, Miss., for his first settlement, and in 1699 built a fort there. Iberville left another brother, Sauvolle, in charge of Biloxi and ordered Bienville to explore farther down the coast while Iberville returned to France. Iberville came back with a commission from the French government appointing Sauvolle governor of Louisiana. At that time, Louisiana stretched from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to Canada and New Mexico. When Sauvolle died in 1701, Bienville became governor and moved the seat of government to Mobile, Ala., where a year earlier he had constructed a fort. In 1704, Bienville’s younger brother Chateauguay brought 17 settlers from Canada, and the king of France sent a ship with 20 women to provide wives for the Mobile settlers. Iberville died around this time, leaving the family’s interests in Louisiana to the two youngest le Moyne brothers. Bienville was recalled in July 1707, after royal com-
Jean Baptiste LeMoyne de Bienville
missioner Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle charged Bienville with several counts of misconduct. Bienville retained his governorship, however, because his replacement died during a voyage from France. It was a difficult time for the colony. Settlers faced famine in 1709 and 1710 after Bienville’s plan to have Native Americans plant and harvest crops failed. In 1712, the French king gave Antoine
The Bienville monument commemorates the man who founded New Orleans. This photo by Geer Studio was taken in 1956. PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY
Crozat an exclusive 15-year grant on trade in Louisiana, including the right to import African slaves to cultivate farmland. In 1712, Crozat appointed French soldier and explorer Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac governor of Louisiana and demoted Bienville to lieutenant governor. Cadillac died in 1715, making Bienville governor once more. Bienville founded New Orleans in 1718, leaving 50 settlers to cultivate the land and build houses. He transferred the seat of government here in 1722. Bienville was ordered to return to France in 1724 to face more charges. He was removed from office two years later and stayed in France until he was sent back to Louisiana in 1733 — as governor. He remained here until he again lost his seat in 1743, reportedly for waging unsuccessful campaigns against the Chickasaw Indians. He died in Paris on March 7, 1767.