Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 25.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

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[181] health. He had an iron constitution, and it is thought that, had he not exposed himself too much of late years, he would have lived out possibly, a century of existence. He had never known what it was to suffer an ache of disease through his long life.

Colonel Waggaman was born in this city on September 18, 1826. He was born on the identical spot where the Solari grocery now stands, at the corner of Royal and Customhouse streets. He came from a family both titled and historic for generations. His ancestry is traceable back into the nobility of Europe. Baron von Brouner, who, after an eventful career, came to Louisiana to settle, was his great-great-grandfather. The baron came to Louisiana with a commission from the king of Spain. He was a Swiss soldier. He commanded a regiment of Swiss infantry and saw service under three kings. The first of these kings was Amedee I, of Italy. He conferred upon the Baron his title. In testimony of esteem he further presented the great-grandfather of this sketch, with a medalion, a gold snuff box, containing the King's portrait and ornamented with diamonds, and other tokens which remained heirlooms in the family for generations.

Stanislaus, of Poland, next commanded this historic soldier's services, and then the Baron came to Louisiana under commission of his majesty of Spain.

As his bride, the Baron brought to America, Christine Carbonari, of the celebrated Spinola family. Two daughters were born to this union. One of them married Cyril Arnoult, a merchant of Flanders, who settled in this city, and who participated in the battle of New Orleans. Their daughter, Camille Arnoult, married George Augustus Waggaman. Mr. Waggaman was a Marylander. His forefather, Bartholomew Ennals, had settled in Dorchester, Maryland, shortly after the foundation of the colony by Lord Baltimore.

George Augustus Waggaman, the father of the subject of this sketch, speedily became prominent in this State. He was a lawyer and became a judge of the Federal courts. He was then made Secretary of State and held that office for three successive terms. Finally, in 1861, he was elected to the United States Senate for a term of six years. He was a whig, and the leader of his party in this State. He took an active part in all the exciting political occurrences of his time, and participated in a fatal duel as the result of politics. The democrats here in those days were led by Dennis Prieur, and it was with this leader of the opposite political faith that the encounter took place. The duel was fought under ‘The Oaks.’