Damien Marchessault

Damien Marchessault (or Marchesseau) (April 1, 1818 – January 20, 1868) was the seventh Mayor of Los Angeles from May 9, 1859 to May 9, 1860 and then again from January 7, 1861 to May 6, 1865. Marchessault assumed the office one last time interrupting Cristobal Aguilar's first term in office for three months.

Biography

Born in St.-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada, Marchessault was described as a carousing onetime New Orleans gambler.

During his term as Water Overseer of Los Angeles, Marchessault and a partner laid wooden water pipes that burst and turned streets into sinkholes.

Struggling with mounting debts, he slipped into an empty Los Angeles City Hall Council chamber on Jan. 20, 1868, and shot himself to death.

Marchessault Street in Los Angeles is named for him.^[1]

Death & Suicide Note

The following is a news article about Damien Marchessault's death that includes the suicide note he wrote to his wife Mary Clark Marchessault from January 21, 1868 in the Los Angeles Semi-Weekly News:

Died. ---Damien Marchesseault, for several years Mayor of this city, died at the Mayors office, about 7 o'clock AM, on the 20th INS.

Mr. Marchesseault was a native of Canada, and in early life immigrated to New Orleans, where he has a brother now living. He was in Mexico during the Mexican War, and came to this country in 1849, and settled in this city in 1853; where be was for several years engaged in business. He was a man of remarkable energy, of strong convictions, and naturally had many enemies, but leaves a host of friends. The friends and acquaintances of the deceased are requested to attend the funeral at 10 o'clock this morning, from his late residence.

Suicide. -Damien Marchesseault committed suicide on yesterday morning by shooting himself, the ball entering near the nose, and passing into the brain.

The following letter was found upon the table near the late Damien Marchessault, addressed to Mrs. Marchesseault; and was place in our hands for publication by the friends of that lady:

Office of the City Marshal, Los Angeles City, January 20, 1868.

My Dear Mary: - By my drinking to excess, and gambling also, I have involved myself to the amount of about three thousand dollars which I have borrowed from time to time from friends and acquaintances. Under the promise to return the same the following day, which I have often failed to do. To such and extend have I gone in this way that I am now ashamed to meet my fellow man on the street; besides that, I have deeply wronged you as a husband, by spending my money instead of maintaining you as it become a husband to do. Though you have near complained of my miserable conduct, you nevertheless have suffered too much. I therefore, to save you from farther disgrace and trouble, being that I cannot maintain you respectably, I shall end this state of thing this very morning. Of course, in all this, there is no blame-attached contrary you have asked me to permit you to earn money honestly by teaching and I refused. You have always been true to me. If I write these few lines, it is to set you a night before this wicked world, to keep slander from blaming you in way manner whatever. Now, my dear beloved, I hope that you will pardon me, and also Mr. Sainsevain. It is time to part, God bless you, and may you be happy yet, your husband Damien Marchesseault.

References

1. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=Rsg1AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61&dq=marchessault+street+suicide&source=bl&ots=UHNuqmS8W7&sig=rZkfs_RLbq6rIr5Vz48rJRZDEtQ&hl=en&ei=9x8TS_ejN4XOsQO_tLXmAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=marchessault%20street%20suicide&f=false

• Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials: 1850—1938, Compiled under Direction of Municipal Reference Library City Hall, Los Angeles March 1938 (Reprinted 1966)

Political offices
Preceded by John G. Nichols	Mayor of Los Angeles, California 1859—1860	Succeeded by Henry Mellus
Preceded by William Woodworth	Mayor of Los Angeles, California 1861—1865	Succeeded by Joseph Mascarel
Preceded by Oliver Stearns	Water Overseer of Los Angeles, California May 12, 1866—May 8, 1867	Succeeded by Jesus Cruz
Preceded by Cristobal Aguilar	Mayor of Los Angeles, California May 8, 1867—August 8, 1867	Succeeded by Cristobal Aguilar
Preceded by Cristobal Aguilar	Water Overseer of Los Angeles, California August 8, 1867—January 20, 1868	Succeeded by Elijah Bettis

Persondata
Name	Marchessault, Damien
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 1, 1818
Place of birth
Date of death	January 20, 1868
Place of death