Aaron Burr and Louis Le Guen correspondence, 1797-1826

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Summary

Creators:
Burr, Aaron, 1756-1836
Abstract:
A collection of letters and legal documents related to Aaron Burr, Louis Le Guen, and Thomas Ludlow Ogden.
Extent:
1.2 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English and French.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Aaron Burr and Louis Le Guen correspondence, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of letters and legal documents of Aaron Burr, Louis Le Guen, and Thomas Ludlow Ogden, chiefly regarding the loan granted by Le Guen to Burr in 1799 and settling of accounts from 1805 to 1820. Also included are a few items pertaining to the Le Guen vs. Gouverneur and Kemble court case, including Burr's letter to Alexander Hamilton (November. 15, 1803), and another case handled by Burr on Le Guen's behalf. Other correspondents include Cadwallader R. Colden, Charles Leggett, and LeGuen's wife Mary Hylton LeGuen.

Biographical / historical:

Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton acted as joint counsel for Louis Le Guen in a complicated mercantile lawsuit Le Guen vs. Gouverneur and Kemble (1797). The court ruled in Le Guen's favor, winning him biggest settlement in American legal history to the date. Aaron Burr heavily borrowed from his client, and the litigation for the recovery of his extensive debts dragged on for more than two decades. Thomas Ludlow Ogden, (1773-1844), one of the most prominent corporate attorneys in New York, represented Le Guen.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mrs. Edward L. Doheny, 1952.
Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Library Staff in approximately 1955; in August 2023, Gayle M. Richardson created the finding aid.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Aaron Burr and Louis Le Guen correspondence, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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