Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent - Rebellion of 1768

Rebellion of 1768

Maxent whose fortune was tied to France was to have his loyalties severely tested in the transition from French to Spanish control.

Maxent was one of the first Frenchmen to pledge his allegiance to the new Spanish governor Antonio de Ulloa and Ulloa was named godfather of one of Maxent's daughters. Maxent entered into contracts to supply Spanish frigates. When the Creole and German settlers around New Orleans resisted Spanish rule in the Rebellion of 1768 they imprisoned Maxent at his plantantion from October 25–29, 1768 releasing him after Ulloa was forced out of the city to return to Spain. In January 1769 Maxent was to thwart efforts by the plotters to enlist Native Americans to fight any attempt by the Spanish to reclaim New Orleans. In May 1769 the partnership with Laclede was dissolved with Laclede buying the St. Louis facilities for 80,000 livres with the first payment due in June 1771.

In August 1769 Alejandro O'Reilly restored Spanish authority in New Orleans putting down the rebellion and executing five ringleaders and imprisoning five others. O'Relly abolished the Superior Council which had governed Louisiana replacing it with the Spanish Cabildo and replaced the French laws with Spanish code.

O'Reilly gave Maxent a new patent for the fur business for the firm St. Maxent and Ranson. The firm which rivaled LaClede's was to contribute to Laclede's declining fortunes in St. Louis.

Maxent's daughter was to marry to the next Spanish governor Luis de Unzaga.

During this period he was to believed to have been the richest man in the entire territory and built a series of lavish homes.

In the Great New Orleans Fire (1788) which destroyed most of New Orleans, Maxent was officially commended by the Spanish for opening his home to many refugees from the fire and for selling supplies to the Spanish at the same price as was before the fire.