Prudent Beaudry
Encyclopedia
Prudent Beaudry served as the 13th Mayor of Los Angeles, California
from 1874 to 1876. A native of Quebec
, he was the second French Canadian
, and third French American
mayor of Los Angeles.
, he went to New York City
to pursue graduate studies in business school. In the aftermath of the Rebellions of 1837
that shook the province of Quebec, he travelled in the United States and promoted the idea of annexing Canada
to the United States. Around 1840, he settled to New Orleans where he gained additional experience in commercial activities. In 1842, he returned to Montreal and created with his brothers an import-export business. Because he was responsible of buying stocks, Prudent Beaudry frequently needed to travel in Europe.
His younger brother, Victor Beaudry, left to San Francisco in the core of the California Gold Rush
, and convinced Prudent to join him in order to take advantage of the growing economic activities. After selling his parts in the Montreal business to his older brothers, Prudent Beaudry moved to San Franscisco and invested all $26,000 of the deal in various enterprises oriented to fulfill the needs of the Gold Rush miners, including retail store, transportation, and funeral company. This was the oldest funeral firm in California and still operates today under the name of McAvoy O’Hara & Evergreen Mortuary.
, and succeeded in creating back a respectful floating capital
. In 1854, Prudent decided to invest in capital assets in addition to his retail store. He bought different parts of land and constituted the "Beaudry Blocks". The rents of his assets will yield him $1000 per month.
In 1855, after Victor joined him back again, Prudent Beaudry left to Europe in order to consult a Parisian oculist for health problems. He rested in Montreal for five years, limiting his activity. In 1861, Victor received a lucrative offer to furnish the Army of the Potomac
during the American Civil War
. This offer forced Prudent to get back to Los Angeles and take charge again of his business. His profits by that time amounted to a few thousand dollars per year, a considerable amount for the time. Prudent Beaudry decided to invest in silver mine, but this investment failed after it burnt completely when the Californian Natives
retaliated from European massacres.
Prudent Beaudry then decided to take all of his savings to buy vast lands in the cheap, desert lots uphill of Los Angeles, which had the quality of offering outstanding sight of the ocean. He further bought lands near the Sierra Nevada, and built a self-made aqueduct in order to redirect several streams flowing from the mountain to his new lands. He owned a great deal of real estate in downtown Los Angeles mainly around Temple Street, Arcadia region, and on Bellevue road. Moreover, Beaudry got interested in architecture and urbanism, and so decided to get involved in town and country planning, notably by planting many new trees and making plans of luxurious mansions as well as humble homes. The quality of his work is rapidly recognized, and the upgraded lands are sold with very large profit.
In 1873, he became the first president of the Board of Trades of Los Angeles. In 1874, he became mayor of Los Angeles, during which times, coincidentally his brother Jean-Louis Beaudry
was also the mayor of Montreal.
Later in his life, Beaudry decided to get involved in exporting water, but a bankruptcy of the partner bank ruined the project. Beaudry also invested in "cable cars" (tramways) for the people moving up and down around the surrounding hills of Los Angeles. But most of his free time was dedicated to architecture.
He died in 1893, at Los Angeles. The L.A. Times praised him as one of the most visionary men of Los Angeles. Following his will, his body was brought back and buried in Montreal. Los Angeles County made the following praise of Prudent Beaudry
Mayor of Los Angeles, California
The mayor of Los Angeles is the chief executive officer of the city. He is elected for a four-year term and limited to serving no more than two terms. Under the California Constitution, all judicial, school, county, and city offices, including those of chartered cities, are nonpartisan...
from 1874 to 1876. A native of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, he was the second French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
, and third French American
French American
French Americans or Franco-Americans are Americans of French or French Canadian descent. About 11.8 million U.S. residents are of this descent, and about 1.6 million speak French at home.An additional 450,000 U.S...
mayor of Los Angeles.
Early life
Prudent Beaudry was born in a wealthy French Canadian family http://www.calarchives4u.com/biographies/losangeles/la-beau.htm. After studying in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, he went to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to pursue graduate studies in business school. In the aftermath of the Rebellions of 1837
Rebellions of 1837
The Rebellions of 1837 were a pair of Canadian armed uprisings that occurred in 1837 and 1838 in response to frustrations in political reform. A key shared goal was the allowance of responsible government, which was eventually achieved in the incident's aftermath.-Rebellions:The rebellions started...
that shook the province of Quebec, he travelled in the United States and promoted the idea of annexing Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to the United States. Around 1840, he settled to New Orleans where he gained additional experience in commercial activities. In 1842, he returned to Montreal and created with his brothers an import-export business. Because he was responsible of buying stocks, Prudent Beaudry frequently needed to travel in Europe.
His younger brother, Victor Beaudry, left to San Francisco in the core of the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
, and convinced Prudent to join him in order to take advantage of the growing economic activities. After selling his parts in the Montreal business to his older brothers, Prudent Beaudry moved to San Franscisco and invested all $26,000 of the deal in various enterprises oriented to fulfill the needs of the Gold Rush miners, including retail store, transportation, and funeral company. This was the oldest funeral firm in California and still operates today under the name of McAvoy O’Hara & Evergreen Mortuary.
Los Angeles
Two successful fires and insufficient insurance left the retail enterprise with only $1000 left of stock. In 1853, Prudent moved alone to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and succeeded in creating back a respectful floating capital
Floating capital
Floating capital denotes currency in circulation and assets which are movable and storable. It represents working capital; assets which are in circulation or transportable; rather than those that are fixed, such as buildings, installations, etc....
. In 1854, Prudent decided to invest in capital assets in addition to his retail store. He bought different parts of land and constituted the "Beaudry Blocks". The rents of his assets will yield him $1000 per month.
In 1855, after Victor joined him back again, Prudent Beaudry left to Europe in order to consult a Parisian oculist for health problems. He rested in Montreal for five years, limiting his activity. In 1861, Victor received a lucrative offer to furnish the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. This offer forced Prudent to get back to Los Angeles and take charge again of his business. His profits by that time amounted to a few thousand dollars per year, a considerable amount for the time. Prudent Beaudry decided to invest in silver mine, but this investment failed after it burnt completely when the Californian Natives
Population of Native California
Estimates of the Native Californian population have varied substantially, both with respect to California's pre-contact count and for changes during subsequent periods. Pre-contact estimates range from 133,000 to 705,000 with some recent scholars concluding that these estimates are low...
retaliated from European massacres.
Prudent Beaudry then decided to take all of his savings to buy vast lands in the cheap, desert lots uphill of Los Angeles, which had the quality of offering outstanding sight of the ocean. He further bought lands near the Sierra Nevada, and built a self-made aqueduct in order to redirect several streams flowing from the mountain to his new lands. He owned a great deal of real estate in downtown Los Angeles mainly around Temple Street, Arcadia region, and on Bellevue road. Moreover, Beaudry got interested in architecture and urbanism, and so decided to get involved in town and country planning, notably by planting many new trees and making plans of luxurious mansions as well as humble homes. The quality of his work is rapidly recognized, and the upgraded lands are sold with very large profit.
In 1873, he became the first president of the Board of Trades of Los Angeles. In 1874, he became mayor of Los Angeles, during which times, coincidentally his brother Jean-Louis Beaudry
Jean-Louis Beaudry
Jean-Louis Beaudry was a Canadian entrepreneur and politician. Beaudry served as mayor of Montreal three times, from 1862 to 1866, from 1877 to 1879, and from 1881 to 1885 for a total time served as mayor of ten years....
was also the mayor of Montreal.
Later in his life, Beaudry decided to get involved in exporting water, but a bankruptcy of the partner bank ruined the project. Beaudry also invested in "cable cars" (tramways) for the people moving up and down around the surrounding hills of Los Angeles. But most of his free time was dedicated to architecture.
He died in 1893, at Los Angeles. The L.A. Times praised him as one of the most visionary men of Los Angeles. Following his will, his body was brought back and buried in Montreal. Los Angeles County made the following praise of Prudent Beaudry
- 'Prudent Beaudry has the record of having made in different lines five large fortunes, four of which, through the act of God, or by the duplicity of man, in whom he had trusted, have been lost; but even then he was not discouraged, but faced the world, even at an advanced age, like a lion at bay, and his reward he now enjoys in the shape of a large and assured fortune. Of such stuff are the men who fill great places, and who develop and make a country. To such men we of this later day owe much of the beauty and comfort that surround us, and to such we should look with admiration as models upon which to form rules of action in trying times.'