Alexander R. François (1820 - May 21, 1869) was a state legislator who served in the

Louisiana State Senate The Louisiana State Senate (french: Sénat de Louisiane) is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana. All senators serve four-year terms and are assigned to multiple committees. Composition The Louisiana State Senate is compose ...

during the

Reconstruction era The Reconstruction era was a period in American history following the American Civil War (1861–1865) and lasting until approximately the Compromise of 1877. During Reconstruction, attempts were made to rebuild the country after the bloo ...

from 1868 until his murder in 1869.

Biography

François was born in 1820 in

St. Martin Parish, Louisiana St. Martin Parish (french: Paroisse de Saint-Martin) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, founded in 1811. Its parish seat is St. Martinville, and the largest city is Breaux Bridge. At the 2010 U.S. census, the population was 52 ...

. He worked as a planter, butcher and merchant and worked for the ''New Orleans Tribune''. He was elected to serve in the

in 1868 as a Radical, and he served until his death in 1869. He was murdered by two white men who remained unpunished for the crime. He was beaten for a long time with clubs in his own store in St. Marin and left to die. He was taken to New Orleans where he sued the sheriff of St. Martin and his brothers and a nephew for assault and battery. He died of lockjaw in immense pain on May 21, 1869. He funeral was attended by Governor

Henry C. Warmoth Henry Clay Warmoth (May 9, 1842 – September 30, 1931) was an American attorney and veteran Civil War officer in the Union Army who was elected governor and state representative of Louisiana. A Republican, he was 26 years old when elected as 23 ...

as well as many other office holders including members of the senate and house. He had a catholic service performed at the Augustine Church in New Orleans by Father Joubert and was buried in the St. Louis cemetery. He was one of two senators from the 1868-1870 legislative session to die in 1869, the other being John Randall. François had a son ''Alexander R. François Jr.'' born 1842/3 who was a justice of the peace in Saint Martin Parish until he fled following his fathers murder.

References

1820 births 1869 deaths People from St. Martin Parish, Louisiana African-American politicians during the Reconstruction Era Louisiana state senators Murdered African-American people {{Louisiana-politician-stub

Biography

See also

References