Duncan F. Kenner
Encyclopedia
Duncan Farrar Kenner was a Louisiana
politician
, lawyer
, and diplomat
for the Confederate States of America
.
, Kenner became a wealthy sugar
planter. He used scientific techniques and was said to be the first man in Louisiana to use a railroad to bring sugar cane from the fields to the mill. Kenner served for several terms in the Louisiana House of Representatives
and was a member of the state constitutional conventions of 1845 and 1852, having presided over the latter conclave.
Kenner was a member of the Confederate Congress and chairman of its Ways and Means Committee. In 1862, he proposed a national income tax of 20%, including a schedule of exemptions. His tax bill went nowhere, but in April 1863, Congress passed another act calling for a tax "in kind", payable with goods and agricultural produce rather than money, and based not on property but on agricultural produce and income it generated.
In July 1863, while visiting his family at his Ashland Plantation
during a recess in the legislature, Kenner narrowly avoided capture by the Union army
, making his escape after being warned by one of his slaves of the advance of Federal troops. By this time he had become convinced that the emancipation of slaves was the only way to gain independence for the Confederacy. In 1864, he was sent by Jefferson Davis
as special commissioner to England
and France
to secure the recognition of the Confederate States of America
. Davis, through Kenner, offered the emancipation
of the Confederate slaves in exchange for recognition of the Confederacy by Britain and France.
Following the capture of New Orleans in 1862, much of Kenner's property was confiscated and his slaves were freed, but at his death he was again a millionaire. He was fond of horses, and owned one of the largest stock farms in the United States
. He built Ashland Plantation for his wife, the former Anne Guillelmine Nanine Bringier (Aug. 24, 1822 - Nov. 6, 1911). The Louisiana city of Kenner is named for his family.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
for the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
.
Biography
Born in New OrleansNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Kenner became a wealthy sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
planter. He used scientific techniques and was said to be the first man in Louisiana to use a railroad to bring sugar cane from the fields to the mill. Kenner served for several terms in the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people . Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of...
and was a member of the state constitutional conventions of 1845 and 1852, having presided over the latter conclave.
Kenner was a member of the Confederate Congress and chairman of its Ways and Means Committee. In 1862, he proposed a national income tax of 20%, including a schedule of exemptions. His tax bill went nowhere, but in April 1863, Congress passed another act calling for a tax "in kind", payable with goods and agricultural produce rather than money, and based not on property but on agricultural produce and income it generated.
In July 1863, while visiting his family at his Ashland Plantation
Ashland Plantation
Ashland Plantation was an historic plantation estate and home of Duncan Farrar Kenner, located in Darrow, Louisiana.Ashland was also known as Belle Helene.http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/louisiana/buildings/Ash1.jpg...
during a recess in the legislature, Kenner narrowly avoided capture by the Union army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
, making his escape after being warned by one of his slaves of the advance of Federal troops. By this time he had become convinced that the emancipation of slaves was the only way to gain independence for the Confederacy. In 1864, he was sent by Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
as special commissioner to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to secure the recognition of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. Davis, through Kenner, offered the emancipation
Emancipation
Emancipation means the act of setting an individual or social group free or making equal to citizens in a political society.Emancipation may also refer to:* Emancipation , a champion Australian thoroughbred racehorse foaled in 1979...
of the Confederate slaves in exchange for recognition of the Confederacy by Britain and France.
Following the capture of New Orleans in 1862, much of Kenner's property was confiscated and his slaves were freed, but at his death he was again a millionaire. He was fond of horses, and owned one of the largest stock farms in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He built Ashland Plantation for his wife, the former Anne Guillelmine Nanine Bringier (Aug. 24, 1822 - Nov. 6, 1911). The Louisiana city of Kenner is named for his family.