He was born 19 November 19, 1804, the 6th
child of Jean Mouton, at the family�s
plantation
on Bayou Carencro. Graduated from Georgetown
College, District of Columbia and studied
law in the office of Charles Antoine
and
Edward Simon in St. Martinville. In
1825
he was admitted to the bar and commenced
practice in Lafayette Parish. Serves
in the
Louisiana House from 1826 to 1832.
Marries Zelia Rousseau, grand daughter
of
Dupre, wealthy cattleman of Opelousas
and
governor from 1830-1831. After his
marriage
he abandons his law practice and become
a
sugar planter on Ile Copal Plantation, given to him by his father as a wedding
present. They had five children before
his
wife died. Marries Emma Kitchell Gardner.
This marriage has six children
He was a planter, a State house of representatives,
and served as speaker . Residential elector
on the Democratic ticket in 1828, 1832, and
1836. He unsuccessful ran for election in
1830 to the Twenty-second Congress; member,
State house of representatives 1836; elected
as a Democrat to the United States Senate
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation
of Alexander Porter, was reelected to the
full term, and served from January 12, 1837,
until his resignation on March 1, 1842; chairman,
Committee on Agriculture (Twenty-sixth Congress);
Governor of Louisiana 1842-1846; actively
involved in railroads; president of the State
secession convention in 1861; died 12 February
1885 near Vermillionville (now Lafayette),
La., and is buried at St. John's Cemetery.
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