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'''John Slidell''' (1793 – July 28, 1871) was an [[United States|American]] [[business]]man, [[attorney]], and [[politician]] in his adopted city of [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]].

'''John Slidell''' (1793 – July 28, 1871) was an [[United States|American]] [[business]]man, [[attorney]], and [[politician]] in his adopted city of [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]].

A native of [[New York City]], he was a son of John Slidell, Sr., a merchant, and the former Margery Mackenzie. He graduated from [[Columbia University|Columbia College]] in 1810. He settled in New Orleans in 1819. In 1835, he married the former Mathilde Deslonde, and the couple had three children., Alfred, Marie, and Matilda. Slidell's sister, Jane, married [[United States Navy]] Commodore [[Matthew Perry]]. His brother, Thomas Slidell, was a chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, based in New Orleans. Slidell was engaged in the mercantile business in New York and was admitted to the New York bar. His New Orleans law practice extended from 1819 to 1843.<ref name=lahist>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-s/|title=Slidell, John|publisher=''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'': Louisiana Historical Association|accessdate=April 19, 2020}}</ref>

A native of [[New York City]], he was a son of John Slidell, Sr., a merchant, and the former Margery Mackenzie. He graduated from [[Columbia University|Columbia College]] in 1810. He settled in New Orleans in 1819. In 1835, he married the former Mathilde Deslondes (1800-1870), and the couple had three children., Alfred, Marie, and Matilda. Slidell's sister, Jane, married [[United States Navy]] Commodore [[Matthew Perry]]. His brother, Thomas Slidell, was a chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, based in New Orleans. Slidell was engaged in the mercantile business in New York and was admitted to the New York bar. His New Orleans law practice extended from 1819 to 1843.<ref name=lahist>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-s/|title=Slidell, John|publisher=''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'': Louisiana Historical Association|accessdate=April 19, 2020}}</ref>

Slidell was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, ran unsuccessfully in 1828 for the [[United States House of Representatives]] but was elected to that body for one term from 1843 to 1845. He was the Orleans Parish district attorney from 1829 to 1833. He was appointed an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to [[Mexico]] from 1845 to 1846, but the unstable Mexican government refused to recognize him. He was similarly an envoy to [[Guatemala]], [[Nicaragua]], [[El Salvador]], and [[Honduras]]. He was a member of the [[United States Senate]] from 1853 to 1861 but resigned at the advent of the [[American Civil War]], as did all southern senators except [[Andrew Johnson]].

Slidell was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, ran unsuccessfully in 1828 for the [[United States House of Representatives]] but was elected to that body for one term from 1843 to 1845. He was the Orleans Parish district attorney from 1829 to 1833. He was appointed an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to [[Mexico]] from 1845 to 1846, but the unstable Mexican government refused to recognize him. He was similarly an envoy to [[Guatemala]], [[Nicaragua]], [[El Salvador]], and [[Honduras]]. He was a member of the [[United States Senate]] from 1853 to 1861 but resigned at the advent of the [[American Civil War]], as did all southern senators except [[Andrew Johnson]].