Auguste Genevieve Valentin D'Avezac was born on May 30, 1780, near Aux Cayes in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, now Haiti. His father, Jean Pierre Valentin Joseph D'Avezac de Castera, of French parentage, owned an extensive plantation. His mother, her husband's kinswoman, was Marie Rose Valentine de Maragon D'Avezac de Castera.
D'Avezac's family was wealthy enough to send him to Europe for his education. Thus D'Avezac was educated in France at the College de Sorèze and the French Military College.
In 1791 his two older brothers were killed in the Santo Domingo insurrection of that year, his father fled to Virginia, where he died of yellow fever, and the other members of the family escaped to Louisiana.
On returning to America D'Avezac joined his mother and sister Louise in New Orleans, where the latter became, June 3, 1805, the second wife of Edward Livingston. He then studied law in his brother-in-law's office.
On admission to the Lousiana bar, D'Avezac commenced practice in New Orleans. His knowledge of law was not profound, but he possessed an intuitive appreciation of the mental processes of the mixed Spanish and French population from whose ranks the average Lousiana juries were drawn, and he soon became known as an exceptionally successful advocate.
Following the declaration of war against Great Britain in 1812 D'avezac joined the local Committee of Defense organized by Livingston and in December 1814 when Jackson assumed command of the forces in New Orleans he became the latter's personal aide, being also appointed judge advocate. In the subsequent operations, his topographical knowledge was of inestimable service to Jackson, who twice specially commended him in dispatches.
On the termination of hostilities, he resumed practice in New Orleans, serving an extensive if not first class clientele and was recognized as without a rival in the criminal courts, to which his work was mainly confined.
During this period he retained the friendship of Jackson who, on becoming president, appointed him secretary of legation at The Hague, August 11, 1829.
Promoted charge d'affaires to the Netherlands October 15, 1831, D'avezac was, January 30, 1833, appointed special diplomatic agent of the Two Sicilies and empowered to negotiate a treaty of general commerce, upon which mission he spent a year in Naples.
Upon his retirement from the Netherlands legation, July 15, 1839, he settled in New York City and, becoming actively affiliated with Tammany Hall, was elected to the state legislature in 1843. On the nomination of President Polk, he again became charge d'affaires to the Netherlands, April 19, 1845. Leaving the service September 28, 1850, Auguste D'Avezac returned to New York City, where he died on February 15, 1851.
He was the author of the anonymous "Fragments of Unpublished Reminiscences of Edward Livingston. "
After the War of 1812 experience D'Avezac became a devoted admirer and political supporter of Jackson, campaigning actively for him in both the 1824 and 1828 campaigns for President. He was also active in Martin Van Buren's unsuccessful 1840 campaign for reelection. In the early 1840s Davezac was elected to two terms in the New York State Assembly as a Democrat, 1842 to 1843, and 1844 to 1845. In 1844 Davezac supported Van Buren's efforts to win the Democratic nomination for President, and campaigned extensively for the eventual nominee, James K. Polk.
Of outstanding natural ability and charm, enjoying the esteem and confidence of Jackson, and for thirty years closely associated with Livingston, who was his constant mentor and during his early diplomatic career his anxious adviser, Auguste D'Avezac was a striking and distinguished figure in contemporary Lousiana affairs. Yet his career presents somewhat of an enigma. Perhaps because of too volatile a nature, an inconstancy of purpose, or lack of high ideals, he never attained the eminence which his intellectual endowments should have assured.
In 1803, Auguste D'Avezac married Margaret Andrews. The same year their son, Auguste Davezac Jr. , was born.
Edward Livingston was an American jurist and statesman, who was an influential figure in the drafting of the Louisiana Civil Code of 1825, a civil code based largely on the Napoleonic Code.
Andrew Jackson was an American soldier and statesman, who served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837.
