Julien de Lallande Poydras

Julien de Lallande Poydras (April 3, 1740 - June 14, 1824) was a Delegate from the Orleans Territory to the United States House of Representatives. He was born in Nantes, France. He served in the French Navy, and was captured by the British in 1760 and taken to England. He escaped on board a West Indian merchantman to Santo Domingo, from which he immigrated to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1768.

Poydras wrote the first poetry published in Louisiana, in 1779. He was president of the first legislative council of the Territory of Orleans. He founded the Female Orphan Asylum in New Orleans, and was elected to the House, serving from March 4, 1809 - March 3, 1811. He was the president of the first state Constitutional Convention. He founded and endowed the Poydras Asylum, and died in Pointe Coupee, Louisiana. He was originally intered in Old St. Francis Cemetery, then he was reintered on the grounds of the Poydras High School, New Roads, Louisiana.