Career
Born in Cluses (Savoy, then part of the Kingdom of Sardinia), he presided over the then-Francophone city during the 1814-1815 British invasion. (General Andrew Jackson declared martial law upon entering New Orleans in December 1814, having marched overland from present-day southern Alabama and then crossing Lake Pontchartrain He ruled over the city until ending martial law in March 1815)
He was the first regularly-elected mayor of New Orleans after Louisiana"s admission to the Union. He was initially elected on September 21, 1812.
Girod took office on November 5 of that year and served until September 4, 1814.
At which date he was re-elected, resigning on September 4, 1815. He was one of three brothers (Andre and Claude being the other two) who conducted commercial enterprises with area planters in what was known as the commission or factorage business.
The Girods kept a wholesale and retail store in the vicinity of the levee landing, which in later years was transferred to the building at the corner of Chartres and Saint Louis streets. He owned a large number of properties in the area of today"s Central Business District, in the vicinity of Girod Street.
New Orleans was full of excitement in the spring of 1821 when Girod remodeled and furnished the house on Chartres Street in readiness for Napoleon Bonaparte.
The ship Seraphine was being outfitted for a secret voyage by Dominique You, and Nicolas Girod was one of the sponsors of the plan to rescue Napoleon from his exile in Saint Helena. But Napoleon"s death frustrated this plan. Girod was quite a philanthropist.
Other institutions and individuals were recipients under this will, including Charity Hospital, $30,000.
Nicolas Girod died on September 1, 1840, at his home located on the corner of Chartres and Saint Louis streets. His former residence in the French Quarter is now known as the Napoleon House.
Both New Orleans and Mandeville, Louisiana, have a Girod Street, named in Nicolas Girod"s honor.
