Allen Parish Biographies

Henry Watkins Allen

Henry Watkins Allen (April 29, 1820 – April 22, 1866) was an American soldier and politician, and a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He served as the Confederate Governor of Louisiana late in the war. Port Allen, a small city on the west bank of the Mississippi River across from Baton Rouge, was named after him in 1878.

Allen was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, was educated at Marion College, Missouri, taught school and practiced law in Mississippi, and served in the Texas Revolution against Mexico. Allen married on July 2, 1844, Salome Ann Crane in Grand Gulf. After the death of his wife in 1851 he became a member of the Texas state House of Representatives in 1853, after studying law at Harvard. In 1859 he went to Europe with the intention of taking part in the Italian struggle for independence, but arrived too late. He made a tour through Europe, the incidents of which are recounted in "'Travels of a Sugar Planter." He was elected to the legislature during his absence, and on returning took a prominent part in the business of that body. He joined the Confederate army as a lieutenant colonel in 1861. He was wounded at Baton Rouge and at Shiloh. Allen became a brigadier general in 1864, and was elected Governor of Louisiana in 1864, losing office when the Confederacy collapsed in 1865.

After the war, he moved to Mexico City, edited the Mexico Times, and wrote Travels of a Sugar Planter. He assisted in the opening of trade between Texas and Mexico. He died in Mexico City and was buried in the American Cemetery. In 1876 his remains were moved to New Orleans. Today he is interred at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge.