Micaela Almonester Pontalba

1795 - 1874
Micaela Almonester Pontalba grew up in New Orleans where she became the wealthiest woman in the city. During her adult life she spent most of her time living in France. Her father was a New Orleans politician and owner of colonial real estate, which left Micaela to a fortune after his passing. She married her cousin, Xavier Celestin de Pontalba, when she was fifteen. This marriage caused her misery as her father-in-law was after her fortune and the dangerous power her husband had over her assets. She had tried to get a separation for protect assets which caused her father-in-law to be angry and shooting Micaela four times. She survived the shooting, was allowed separation, and moved back to New Orleans. With her properties she built rows of historical homes known as the Pontalba Buildings in Jackson Square.




The following as been added or edited 

Timeline for Micaela Almonester de Pontalba
1795 Micaela was born
1798 Her father, Don Andres Almonster, dies leaving his now widowed wife with his life savings
1811 Micaela has an arranged marriage, marries her second cousin, and moves to Paris with her mother and new husband
1826 Micaela's mother dies, leaving her with her families fortune
1834 Micaela's father-in-law attempts to murder her
1836 Micaela is allowed separation from her husband and free to go back to New Orleans
1839 Regains her property in New Orleans and builds her mansion in Paris which is now known as the U.S. ambassadors residence
1849 Begins to build the twin Pontalba Buildings in the French Quarter that is on both sides of Jackson Square
1851 Returns to Paris to live
1874 Dies in Paris at age 78





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