Landry, Pierre Caliste, 1841-1921

Pierre Caliste Landry (April 19, 1841 – December 22, 1921) was an African American attorney, Methodist Episcopal minister, mayor, newspaper editor, and state legislator. He was elected in 1868 as mayor of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, the first African American to be elected mayor in the United States.

Born Caliste Landry into slavery on the Prevost sugar cane plantation in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, he was sold at auction to the Bringier family at age 13. Landry was allowed to continue his education in the plantation schools and live inside the family mansion. After working various positions, Landry was appointed superintendent of the yard and allowed to form a business partnership with the head butler on the plantation. They operated a plantation store, selling candies and goodies Landry made. In 1866, Landry, now freed by the 13th Amendment, changed his first name to Pierre and moved to the African American community in Donaldsonville.

By 1868, Landry had become one of Donaldsonville's most prominent citizens; that year, he was unanimously elected as Mayor of the city, making him the first African American to be elected as mayor of a town in the United States. He served for one term, and additionally served as a Justice of the Peace, member of the Ascension Parish School Board, and Superintendent of Schools. In 1870 he was elected President of the Police Jury and an appointed Tax Collector for his town. Two years later Landry was appointed Postmaster of his town by President Ulysses S. Grant and elected to the State House of Representatives. Landry was also responsible for founding the third African American College in Louisiana, New Orleans University, which later became Dillard University in 1935.

Pierre Landry became the State Senator for the 8th Senatorial District of Louisiana in 1874, where he served one term, and in 1879 he was elected to represent Donaldsonville as a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention. Having converted from Catholicism to Methodism, Landry helped establish and served as Pastor in nine parishes across the state from Shreveport to New Orleans. Landry had a combined 50 years of service as a minister and also practiced as a private attorney for 12 years. He died in the Algiers Section of New Orleans, Louisiana.