Cambon, Sylvester, Jr.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Cambon, Sylvester J., Jr., well-known and successful Louisiana sugar planter and operator, was born at New Orleans, La., and is a son of the late Sylvester J., Sr., and Mary (O'Sullivan) Cambon, the former of whom was a native of Paris, France, and the latter of Dublin, Ireland. The father was related, respectively, to Ambassadors Paul and Jules Cambon, two of the most distinguished among the many distinguished diplomats of France, and who in turn served as ambassador to the United States, Great Britain and Tunis. Sylvester J. Cambon, Sr., came to America and located at New Orleans shortly after having completed his education in Paris, and soon became a recognized leader in the commercial life of the southern metropolis, where he engaged in business as an importer, later becoming a large wholesale merchant and banker, with allied interests affecting many of the city's most prosperous and best-known mercantile, industrial and financial institutions. He became widely known, also, through his wide dispensation of charities, as well as his activities in connection with public affairs generally. Although he took the keenest interest in the selection of candidates and the subsequent election of the best available men for the offices, he persistently declined to become a candidate for any office whatsoever. On one occasion he was urgently requested to enter the race for the office of mayor of the city of New Orleans, but he would not listen to it. For a more detailed and comprehensive idea of the activities of the father, the reader should refer to the sketch of Sylvester J. Cambon, Sr., elsewhere in this work. He was one among the most important and interesting characters of the past generation in New Orleans and Louisiana life. Sylvester J. Cambon, Jr., the subject of this sketch, received his earlier education at a private school in New Orleans, and when the course of instruction at this had been completed, entered Spring Hill college, at Mobile, Ala. Later he matriculated at St. Joseph college, Bardstown, Ky., from which he received the degree of B. S. Shortly following the completion of his education he became identified with the sugar planting industry of Louisiana, and has remained in that connection to this time.

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 500-501. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.