Auguste Davezac was an American diplomat who served twice as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands.
Background
Auguste Genevieve Valentin D."Avezac was born in May, 1780, near Aux Cayes in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, now Haiti. His father was a wealthy landowner, and he was educated in France at the College de Sorèze and the French Military College.
Education
Davezac completed his education in France and moved to the United States shortly after Louise"s marriage, studying medicine in Edenton, North Carolina, and establishing a practice in Accomack County, Virginia.
Career
In 1791, the slaves of Saint-Domingue revolted, which resulted in the deaths of Auguste"s two older brothers, with the rest of his family fleeing to Virginia and New Orleans. In 1805, Davezac"s sister Louise married Edward Livingston. He changed the spelling of his last name (eliminating the apostrophe), decided to abandon medicine for the law and relocated to New Orleans to study under Livingston.
Davezac built a successful practice and was a sought-after criminal defense attorney.
During the War of 1812, Davezac served on the local defense committee established by the residents of New Orleans. In 1814 he joined the staff of Andrew Jackson as aide-de-camp and judge advocate with the rank of Major, the title by which he was addressed for the rest of his life.
Davezac participated in the Battle of New Orleans As a result of his War of 1812 experience Davezac became a devoted admirer and political supporter of Jackson, campaigning actively for him in both the 1824 and 1828 campaigns for President. In 1829 Jackson rewarded Davezac with appointment as Secretary of the United States embassy in the Netherlands, where he served under William Pitt Preble.
In 1831 Edward Livingston became Secretary of State and Davezac succeeded Preble, serving as Chargé d"affaires until 1839.
Davezac returned to New Orleans, but soon relocated to New York City, where he was active in Martin Van Buren"s unsuccessful 1840 campaign for reelection. In 1841 Davezac was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Democrat, where he served two terms. After leaving office Davezac returned to New York City, where he lived in retirement for only a few months before he became ill and died on February 15, 1851.
He was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Queens.