Class of 1840

Paul Octave Hébert: Born Dec. 12, 1818, Bayou Goula, LA.

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, Sep. 1, 1836, to July 1, 1840, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Second Lieut., Corps of Engineers, July 1, 1840.

Served: as Assistant to the Board of Engineers, 1840‑41; at the Military Academy, as Asst. Professor of Engineering, Aug. 30, 1841, to July 21, 1842; and as Asst. Engineer in the construction of the defenses of the Western Passes to New Orleans, La., 1842‑45.

Resigned, Mar. 31, 1845.

Civil History. — Chief Engineer of the State of Louisiana, 1845‑47.

Military History. — Re-appointed in the U. S. Army with the rank of

Lieut.‑Colonel, 14th Infantry, Apr. 9, 1847.

Served: in the War with Mexico, 1847‑48, being engaged in the Battle of Contreras, Aug. 19‑20, 1847, — Battle of Churubusco, Aug. 20, 1947, — Battle of Molino del Rey, Sep. 8, 1847, — Storming of Chapultepec,

(Bvt. Colonel, Sep. 8, 1847,
for Gallant and Meritorious Conduct in the Battle of Molino del Rey, Mex.)

Sep. 13, 1847, — and Assault and Capture of the City of Mexico, Sep. 13‑14, 1847.

Disbanded, July 25, 1848.

Civil History. — Planter, Iberville Parish, La., 1848‑61. Member of the Convention to frame a new Constitution for the State of Louisiana, 1852. Governor of the State of Louisiana, Jan. 1, 1853, to Jan. 28, 1856.​a

Joined in the Rebellion of 1861‑66 against the United States.​b

Civil History. — Planter, Iberville Parish, La., 1866‑80. Member of the Mississippi Levee Commission, 1873‑80.

Died Aug. 29, 1880, at New Orleans, La.: Aged 62.

Buried, St. Raphael Cemetery, Bayou Goula, LA.​c