Louis Auguste Benoist

Louis Auguste Benoist (1803–1867) was an American pioneer banker and financier. He was born August 13, 1803, in St. Louis, Missouri, then a French settlement in Louisiana, and soon to become a possession of the United States under the Louisiana Purchase. His father, Francois Marie Benoist, and his mother's father, Charles Sanguinet, came from prominent families and were instrumental in laying the foundations for St. Louis. Education After devoting two years to the study of medicine under one of the pioneer physicians of the city, Benoist undertook the study of law in the office of Horatio Cozzens and became licensed to practice in the legal profession. Thereafter, he entered into practice in partnership with well-known attorney and conveyancer, Pierre Provenchere. Early career Once, returning from an extended trip to France to settle his grandfather's estate, Benoist's ship was wrecked in the Bay of Biscay, north of Spain, an area noted for its storms. He narrowly escaped death and months would pass before he was able to obtain passage on another vessel bound for America.