Villeré, Jacques Philippe 1761-1830

Jacques Philippe Villeré was the first native-born governor of Louisiana and the second governor after Louisiana became a state. Born somewhere in St. John the Baptist Parish, La., Villeré joined the French army and was educated in France. He married Jeanne Henriette de Fazende, the daughter of Gabriel de Fazende, who owned a plantation close to New Orleans in St. Bernard Parish. Villeré's political and adminstrative career began with service on the municipal council of New Orleans during the brief Spanish rule and later as a police juror in Orleans Parish. Following participation in the Battle of New Orleans, Villeré was elected governor in 1815, narrowly defeating Joshua Lewis. He served until 1820, retiring thereafter to his plantation Conseil, where he died in 1830.