Born in NYC to merchant father, Columbia, lawyer in N.O., state then US House ’43-45, Polk sends to Mexico to buy-he suggests show of force, Senate ’53-61, sides with fire-eaters, CSA Ambassador to France, Trent Affair, in France and UK post-war.
With French & Spanish heritage familiar to New Orleans, he enters Louisiana politics and, at age 35, wins a seat in the US House in 1859 as a member of the anti-immigrant American Party. Once there, he opposes secession with such passion that he refuses to resign when his state secedes. He remains in DC during the war, and is sent to Union-occupied New Orleans by Lincoln in 1862 to explore possible reunification efforts.
Jewish family drawn to Charleston by religious tolerance, poor, Yale, to N.O., commercial law, sugar plantation, 140 slaves, Mexican railroad project, US Senator as Whig, defends slavery and secession, resigns, CSA Atty Gen and Sec of War.
Jones Withers (1814-1890)
John Bouligny (1824-1864)
Louisiana-- Statehood Granted: April 30, 1812 State Motto: Union, justice, confidence
Photography Book
Father Moses is Sephardic Jew, émigré, acquires 50,000 acres on gulf coast near Jacksonville, seeks a “New Jerusalem” home for Jews, instead a vast sugar plantation w 1,000 slaves, son studies law, then politics, US House ’41-45 as territorial delegate, helps get Florida admitted ‘45, marries non-Jew ’46 and changes name from Levy to Yulee, US Senate ’45-51 and ’55-61, inherits estate in ’54, known as “Florida Fire-eater,” opens east-west Fla RR ‘61, CSA congress, imprisoned then pardoned, runs Yulee RR, father of RR in Florida, hosts Grant.
Politicians/Diplomats
Alabama -- Statehood Granted: December 14, 1819 State Motto: We dare defend our rights
Florida -- Statehood Granted: March 3, 1845 State Motto: In God We Trust
John Slidell (1793-1871)
David Yulee (1810-1886)
William L. Yancey (1814-1863)
Son of Va planter, West Point, law in Ala, Col in Mex War, state then US House as Dem, mayor of Mobile, BG over Army of Mobile, Shiloh, gallant at Murfreesboro, pardoned ’65, cotton broker and journalist post-war.
Judah Benjamin (1811-1884)
Southwestern States
Modest start, schooled up North, marries into planter status, flips from anti to pro Calhoun, editor, into politics as leading fire-eater, violent duels, CSA Ambassador to UK and in congress.