Algernon Sidney Badger

Not to be confused with Algernon Sidney.

Algernon Sidney Badger
File:General Badger.jpg
Born	(1839-10-28)October 28, 1839 Boston, Massachusetts
Died	New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Residence	New Orleans, Louisiana
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Milton Academy
Occupation	Government Official
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	(1) Elizabeth Florence Parmele Badger (married 1872–1880, her death) (2) Blanche Blineau Badger (married 1882)
Children	From first marriage: Sidney Badger Frederick Parmele Badger John Algernon Badger Harry Badger From second marriage: George Chester Badger Marion Badger Wells

Algernon Sidney Badger (October 28, 1839 – May 9, 1905) was a colonel in the Union Army and an administrator in local and federal government positions. A native of Boston, Massachusetts, he had served in action in Louisiana and decided to live there after the war.

Badger was appointed to numerous Republican government posts in New Orleans, including as Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police Force, U.S. Postmaster of the city, and a deputy in the United States Customs Service. He filled local and federal positions during and after Reconstruction.

Early years

Named for Algernon Sidney, an English politician who is admired for his republican principles, considered a "Whig patriot and martyr," and highly influential by America's Founding Fathers (presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both admired him), Badger was born to John Baton Badger and the former Sarah Payne Sprague. He was educated at Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts.

Badger volunteered for service in the American Civil War with the Sixth Massachusetts Infantry, later the 26th Infantry. He was sent to New Orleans as an infantry lieutenant. In 1863, he enlisted in the First Louisiana Union Cavalry, and was given command of Company D. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel and then colonel for "faithful and meritorious service" in the 1864 Battle of Mobile Bay in Mobile, Alabama. Earlier that year, he was wounded in battle at False River in southern Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, as part of the major Red River campaign.

Political offices

After the war, Badger settled in New Orleans, where he was appointed as a clerk in Fourth District Recorders Court. About 1868, he joined the Metropolitan Police and was promoted in 1879 to superintendent of the force. On September 14, 1874, Badger was seriously wounded in the Battle of Liberty Place, an insurrection by 5,000 members of the paramilitary White League, who fought against the police and took over state buildings in an attempt to seat John McEnery, the Democratic candidate for governor in the disputed 1872 election. The White League outnumbered and outgunned the Metropolitans, holding the buildings for three days, and retreating before the arrival of federal forces. Nearly 60 people were killed in the fighting. No charges were filed against any insurgents.

Badger left the police force in 1875 to serve as state tax collector in New Orleans. In 1878, during the administration of Republican President Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio, Badger was named US Postmaster at New Orleans. After a year, he took another patronage position, as special deputy in the New Orleans Customs House, where he worked until 1885. That year, the Democratic administration of President Grover Cleveland of New York replaced him with their own appointee.

In 1889, with the return of a Republican administration under President Benjamin Harrison of Indiana, Badger was appointed as special deputy of the US Customs Service. In 1890 he was appointed as the US Appraiser of merchandise in the Customs Service at New Orleans; his post ended in 1893 with a change in administrations. Badger returned to the appraiser position about 1900, under the Republican William McKinley administration, and held that final position until his death in 1905 at the age of sixty-five.

Family and civic life

On April 30, 1872, Badger married Elizabeth Florence Parmele, daughter of Frederick F. and Jane Parmele. The couple had four children, Sidney (born ca. 1873), Frederick Parmele (born ca. 1874), John Algernon (born 1876), and Harry (born 1877). Elizabeth died in 1880.

On September 9, 1882, Badger married Blanche B. Blineau, the daughter of John Blineau and the former Amelia Dechamps, who were both of French descent. They had two children together: George Chester Badger (born 1883) and Marion (born 1885; later Mrs. C. E. Benton Wells).

Badger on more than one occasion led the New Orleans Mardi Gras procession of the Krewe of Rex in his capacity as police superintendent. In one appearance, some in the crowd lampooned him as a "sleuthing bloodhound with a large protruding nose."

Like many men of his time, Badger joined the many fraternal organizations: he was a member and officer of the Grand Army of the Republic veterans organization. He was a grand commander of Knights Templar and a member of the Masonic lodge. He was Episcopalian. Badger died in New Orleans and is interred at Metairie Cemetery.

Further reading

(noted in Dictionary of Louisiana Biography)

• National Cyclopedia of American Biography (1900)
• Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana (1892)
• Records of volunteer Union soldiers in Louisiana; New Orleans city directories, 1867–1905
• U.S. Census for Louisiana, 1880, 1900
• New Orleans Times-Democrat, May 17, 1890, obituary, May 9, 1905, May 10, 1905
• New Orleans Daily Picayune, obituary, May 10, 1905
• New Orleans Item, May 9, 1905