Louis Manigault (1828-1899)
of Charleston; and Gowrie (Savannah) & East Hermitage (South Carolina) Plantations
He was born in Paris, France. He and his brother, Gabriel, lived together for nearly all of their lives. They traveled and studied together in Europe and shared many of the same tastes, notably a love of art, and it was said that their home in Charleston (6 Gibbes Street) had more art treasures than any home in South Carolina. Louis became well-known for his conservation and his zeal for knowledge, "almost lost him his life near Canton, China, when he and an English army officer were attacked by a mob of enraged Chinamen, and defended themselves with short swords until rescue came." He visited Manilla in the Philippines, made long journeys to the interior of Luzon, and on the outbreak of the Philippine War reported for The News and Courier. He traveled a thousand miles across South America on horseback, and his diary, written in French, "would doubtless give many incidents of thrilling adventure and pages of scholarly comment made by (this) quiet unassuming gentleman" who back at home became a distinguished scientist and Professor at the College of Charleston. In 1857, he married Fanny, daughter of Dr. Joseph Clay Habersham of Savannah, and they had 5-children.
