Frederick L. Villepigue

Who is Frederick L. Villepigue?

Frederick L. Villepigue served as Secretary of State of Florida from July 1, 1853 to January 13, 1863.

Villepigue was born in South Carolina. He was descended from a Frenchman, Francois Villepigue, who immigrated from France to Santo Domingo, a French colony, in 1788, but was killed by his slaves in a slave rebellion in 1800 in the Haitian Revolution. Francois' wife received last-minute warning and escaped with their two sons, arriving with Pierre Laurent Jumelle at Charleston, and settling in Camden, South Carolina. One of the Villepigues' sons, Paul Francis became a prominent merchant in Camden, and one of his seven children was Fredrick L. Villepigue.

Villepigue graduated from South Carolina College and moved to Florida in the 1840s. The 1850 Census listed him as a 21-year-old lawyer living in Jefferson County. Villepigue was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Charles W. Downing, Jr. as Secretary of State of Florida on July 1, 1853, and was elected to that post on July 25, 1853, serving until January 13, 1863.

The 1860 Census listed Villepigue having a personal estate of $200.00.