Hahn, Michael

views updated

HAHN, MICHAEL

HAHN, MICHAEL (1830–1886), governor of the state of Louisiana. Born in Bavaria, Germany, Hahn was brought to New Orleans, La., as a child and was admitted to the bar in 1851. During the Civil War he supported the Unionist cause and was elected to Congress in 1863. He became governor of Louisiana in the following year – the first Jewish governor in the U.S. Hahn resigned the governorship in 1865 following his election to the Senate but never took his seat. He returned to Congress as a Republican in 1884 and served until his death.