The Biographical Dictionary of America/Hahn, Michael

HAHN, Michael, governor of Louisiana, was born in Bavaria, Nov. 24, 1830. His widowed mother removed to America when he was a child, landing in New York, and after a few years there and in Texas settled in New Orleans. He was graduated at the New Orleans high school, and at the University of Louisiana LL.B. in 1851, his diploma admitting him to practice in all the courts of the state. He was elected school director in 1852, serving several years, and was president of the board for a time. He advocated the candidacy of Stephen A. Douglas for president in 1860, and canvassed the state, 1860–61, against secession. He acted under the Confederate government as a notary and when General Butler took military possession of New Orleans, he took the oath of allegiance to the United States and was elected a representative in the 37th congress, taking his seat in that body Feb. 17, 1863. On his return to New Orleans after March 3, 1863, he was made prize commissioner and advocated the reopening of the U.S. courts and in January, 1864, purchased and conducted the New Orleans True Delta in the interest of emancipation. He was elected and inaugurated the first free state governor of Louisiana March 4, 1864. and was recognized by the U.S. congress. He was appointed military governor by President Lincoln March 15, 1864. Henry F. Allen exercised authority as governor over the portions of the state under Confederate control, and Governor Hahn continued in office till January, 1865, when he was elected U.S. senator, and he resigned the governorship, but did not press his claim to a seat in the senate, and B. F. Flanders was appointed military governor. In 1867 Hahn became editor of the New Orleans Republican and was made administrator of the charity hospital of New Orleans. In 1871 he removed to a sugar plantation in St. Charles parish where he founded the village of Hahnville. He was a representative in the state legislature. 1872–76; superintendent of the U.S. mint at New Orleans, 1878; U.S. district judge, 1879–85, and representative from the second district in the 49th congress, 1885–86. He died in Washington, D.C., March 15, 1886.