Peter Desnoyers
Encyclopedia
Peter Desnoyers was a businessman and politician from Detroit, Michigan
, and served as an early State Treasurer of Michigan
.
, the first child of Peter J. Desnoyers
and his wife Marie Louise. The younger Peter Desnoyers lived in Detroit during his childhood, and began a cereer as a merchant in 1821.
Desnoyers married Caroline Leib. The couple had two children: Edmund and Emilie. He later married Annie Hunt Whipple. The couple had two daughters: Frances Agnes and Catherine M.
in 1826, the first man to be elected to that position. He was again elected treasurer in the next election, and was elected twice more later in life in 1843 and 1851. In 1827 he was elected alderman of the city of Detroit, and in 1831 he was appointed a United States Marshal by President Andrew Jackson
, a position he held until 1837. In 1838 he was appointed city treasurer of Detroit, and in 1839 Governor Stevens T. Mason
appointed him State Treasurer of Michigan
, a post which he served until Mason left office in 1840.
In 1849, Desnoyers moved from Detroit to Hamtramck, Michigan
. In 1850 he was elected a member of the Michigan Constitutional Convention, and in 1867 was again a member of the Convention.
Peter Desnoyers died March 6, 1880.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, and served as an early State Treasurer of Michigan
State Treasurer of Michigan
The State Treasurer of Michigan functions as the chief financial officer for the U.S. state of Michigan. The State Treasurer oversees the collection, investment, and disbursement of all state monies, and also administers major tax laws, safeguards the credit of the state, and distributes revenue...
.
Early life
Peter Desnoyers was born on April 21, 1800 in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, the first child of Peter J. Desnoyers
Peter J. Desnoyers
Peter John Desnoyers was a silversmith and businessman, and a leading citizen of early Detroit, Michigan.-Early life:...
and his wife Marie Louise. The younger Peter Desnoyers lived in Detroit during his childhood, and began a cereer as a merchant in 1821.
Desnoyers married Caroline Leib. The couple had two children: Edmund and Emilie. He later married Annie Hunt Whipple. The couple had two daughters: Frances Agnes and Catherine M.
Public Service
Desnoyers was elected county treasurer of Wayne County, MichiganWayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
in 1826, the first man to be elected to that position. He was again elected treasurer in the next election, and was elected twice more later in life in 1843 and 1851. In 1827 he was elected alderman of the city of Detroit, and in 1831 he was appointed a United States Marshal by President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
, a position he held until 1837. In 1838 he was appointed city treasurer of Detroit, and in 1839 Governor Stevens T. Mason
Stevens T. Mason
Stevens Thomson Mason , also known as Stevens T. Mason, Tom Mason, The Boy Governor, and lesser known nicknames Young Hotspur and The Stripling, was the territorial governor of the Michigan Territory, and later the first Governor of the state of Michigan. Mason guided the Michigan Territory into...
appointed him State Treasurer of Michigan
State Treasurer of Michigan
The State Treasurer of Michigan functions as the chief financial officer for the U.S. state of Michigan. The State Treasurer oversees the collection, investment, and disbursement of all state monies, and also administers major tax laws, safeguards the credit of the state, and distributes revenue...
, a post which he served until Mason left office in 1840.
In 1849, Desnoyers moved from Detroit to Hamtramck, Michigan
Hamtramck, Michigan
Hamtramck is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 22,423. Hamtramck is surrounded by the city of Detroit except for a small portion of the western border that touches the similarly surrounded city of Highland Park...
. In 1850 he was elected a member of the Michigan Constitutional Convention, and in 1867 was again a member of the Convention.
Peter Desnoyers died March 6, 1880.