Cambon, Ferdinand J., D. V. M.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Cambon, Dr. Ferdinand Joseph, D. V. M., successful and well-known bacteriologist of New Orleans, La., was born in the parish of St. John the Baptist, La., and is a son of Sylvester J., Sr., and Mary (Ring) Cambon, the former of whom was born at Paris, France, and the latter at Belfast, Ireland. Sylvester J. Cambon, Sr., the father, came to America and located at New Orleans shortly after having attained his 21st year. He immediately identified himself with the best business interests of the city and engaged in business as an importer. His enterprises were more than ordinarily prosperous, and he soon became, in association with his business partner, one of the largest wholesale merchants of the city of New Orleans, later becoming associated with banking interests and a variety of enterprises of the more substantial commercial, industrial and financial element of the city's life. In addition to his business activities, he was widely known through his generous dispensation of charities, in the wisest and most intelligent manner. He at one time donated $100,000 to the French government, during the Franco-German war, to aid in caring for the sick and wounded of the French army, and was afterward signally honored by the French republic in a most unique and fitting manner. He was one of the most interesting characters of his time, and for a fuller detailed account of his activities the reader should see sketch of Sylvester J. Cambon, Sr., elsewhere in this work. Mary (Ring) Cambon, the mother, was a daughter of Timothy Ring, who owned and operated 2 large factories located, respectively, at Cork and Belfast, Ireland. She was the second wife of Sylvester J. Cambon, Sr., and a niece of the first wife. In the course of his very complete education, Ferdinand Joseph Cambon attended a private school in New Orleans, later entering the Jesuit Brothers' college. After completing thorough preparation in the latter institution, he matriculated at Louisiana State university, after graduating from which he entered Tulane university for a special course of work, having received the degree of B. S. from the state university. Later, he entered the Kansas City College of Comparative Medicine (Mo.) and there did 4 years' work in bacteriological and microscopic research, receiving the degree of D. V. M. Since completing his professional education, Dr. Cambon had been actively engaged in practice at New Orleans, and with most gratifying success. He is a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and is affiliated with the Catholic church.

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 501-502. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.