Top New Orleans Historical Figures Buried at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
As October’s winds become crisper and Halloween decorations start popping up, it’s a good time to remember the enduring legacy of Bernard de Marigny, a historic figure interred at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans. As the oldest extant cemetery in the city, St. Louis Cemetery serves as the final resting place for many well-known New Orleans residents from generations past. Marigny in particular is a character well suited for study in a season known for its costumed flamboyance and spirited mischievousness.
Born on October 28, 1785, Marigny entered New Orleans society as a prominent member of a well-established French colonial family. As he entered adulthood, Marigny became known as a charming troublemaker, playboy gambler, and, eventually, champion of the rights of French-speaking Creole inhabitants. Here are 4 contributions Marigny made to the establishment of modern New Orleans during his 82 years of life.
He Created the Faubourg Marigny Neighborhood
After losing his father at age 15, Marigny inherited a substantial estate and the monetary wealth that went along with it. In 1806, he contracted an architect named Barthelemy Lafon to help him subdivide his massive plantation into individual lots available for sale. This move opened up swaths of land for households that otherwise would have been unable to afford such lots.
Quickly attracting a diverse population, this new Faubourg Marigny suburb of New Orleans became home to many refugees from Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) fleeing the Haitian Revolution and other French-speaking Catholic families. As a result, this neighborhood developed a unique architectural and cultural style characterized by Creole cottages, unique culinary dishes, and a mish-mash of religious identities.
Marigny Contributed to the Growth of New Businesses
The creation of the Faubourg Marigny did more than just create new residential space in the city; it also attracted artisans and entrepreneurs intent on starting businesses in the new district. A rush of residents suddenly created a lucrative market for new commercial activity, and several companies were created to meet the demands of locals and visitors alike. Unsurprisingly, more businesses meant more jobs, which also allowed New Orleans residents access to steady income and employment opportunities.
Many of these fresh businesses were owned by local Creole families, free persons of color, and immigrants to the United States. This motley crew of business owners not only enhanced job opportunities for others like them, but also improved the standards of living for many others. Marigny himself leveraged financial success from selling lots on his family’s traditional land, which further enriched him and created a legacy of land ownership that impacted future generations in the city.
Marigny Introduced the Game of Craps to New Orleans
In his youth, Marigny was known for his extravagant lifestyle and love for gambling. This pastime became a particular favorite while Marigny was in England, where he discovered the game of Hazard. Returning to New Orleans in the early 1800s, Marigny introduced this dice game to members of his social circle and slowly adapted it into the modern version of craps (or “crapaud,” meaning “frog” in French). The new name was said to humorously reference the posture of players crouching over the table and paying rapt attention to the fall of the dice.
After establishing the Faubourg Marigny, Marigny even whimsically dubbed one street the Rue de Craps (now known as Burgundy Street). On a broader scale, craps catered to the growing population of Creoles, free people of color, and New Orleans newcomers by providing a source of entertainment that knit together diverse communities. It also became intertwined with the cultural fabric of the city and played a major role in the establishment of popular gaming houses.
He Supported the Rights of French Speakers in New Orleans
During Marigny’s lifetime, New Orleans was experiencing significant political and cultural changes. The U.S. government’s Louisiana Purchase of 1803 created challenges for the new American nation when it came to managing the diverse linguistic landscape of New Orleans and integrating French-speaking peoples with those of English heritage. Marigny — himself a wealthy French Creole — emerged as a key advocate for the French community and worked to ensure their legal, economic, and social equality during his service as a New Orleans City Council member and President of the Louisiana State Senate.
It was in no small part due to Marigny that Louisiana became known for its bilingual culture, one that placed equal importance on use of both the French and English language within the new U.S. state. Marigny’s activism also enabled French to propagate within certain New Orleans communities, including the theater scene and Creole cultural institutions.
An Aristocrat with an Agenda
Regardless of the controversy surrounding Bernard de Marigny’s life (of which there is plenty), there’s little dispute about his outsized impact on the political, economic, and social state of modern New Orleans. To visit Marigny’s final resting place, book a guided tour at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and pay homage to his tomb. After all, what better time to celebrate this colorful individual’s life than during his birthday month of October?
