| John B. Esnard | |
| State House: | Louisiana |
| Term Start: | 1868 |
| Term End: | 1870 |
| Death Place: | Los Angeles |
John B. Esnard (1846 - June 2, 1931) was a Reconstruction era politician who served as a delegate at the 1868 Louisiana Constitutional Convention and in the in Louisiana House of Representatives 1868-1870.[1]
Esnard was born in 1846 to a slaveholder, in New Orleans and was of French descent.[2] He was described as mulatto and when asked if he was a "colored man" he said "I cannot answer that; I do not know exactly whether I am or not".He served during the American Civil War in the Union Army.
Esnard represented St. Mary Parish along with A. J. Demarest at the 1868 Louisiana Constitutional Convention.[3] Along with P. B. S. Pinchback, O. C. Blandin and Auguste Donato Jr., he signed the new constitution but registered protest against Article 99 that they believed went against their Radical Republican views on universal suffrage.[4] [5]
He and Demarest were then elected to represent St. Mary Parish in the Louisiana House of Representatives.[6] Due to threats made he fled north but returned soon after to take his seat and he served from 1868 until 1870. He served on the Committee on Railways.[7]
Esnard moved to Los Angeles 18 years before his death there on July 2, 1931 at his home aged 85.[8] He was survived by his wife Florentine K. Esnard, four sons and three daughters and he was buried at Calvary Cemetery.
One source "Some Negro Officers and Legislators in Louisiana" says that he was a senator for Iberia Parish from 1870 until 1876 but this does not concur with the contemporary newspapers and also fails to mention his election to the house so appears to be erroneous.[9]