Biography of 	D'AQUIN, John J., M. D., Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller August 1998

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D'Aquin, John Joseph, M. D., of New Orleans, La., was born at New Orleans,
Oct. 23, 1872, the son of Jules J. d'Aquin, a native of Jamaica, and Marie
Guex d'Aquin, born in New Orleans, died in 1884.  The d'Aquin family is of
noble origin.  Its genealogy has been traced back to the Princes of Capua,
and the Counts d'Aquin, who were powerful feudal lords of Italy.  After 
the capture by Emperor Conrad, of a city ruled by the d'Aquins, and the
dwindling of the population to only 35 families, the counts and several of
their retainers removed to France.  Their descendants were distinguished 
in the profession of arms, in public offices, and in the science of 
medicine.  Paul Louis Henri Charles d'Aquin was chosen by Queen Marie de 
Medicis to be her attending physician; Antoine d'Aquin was physician-in-
chief to King Louis XIV, and Pierre d'Aquin, brother of Antoine, was one 
of the royal consulting physicians.  The first of the name that came over
to the new, world was Antoine Benoist d'Aquin, director of the postal 
service at Rochefort, France, transferred to the Louisiana province to be
naval commander in the Mississippi region.  His son, Antoine Pierre d'Aquin,
born at Fort Conde, Mobile, in the Louisiana province, served the king for
35 years; first as ''Cadet'' in the regiment of Normandy; next, as 
lieutenant, and through successive promotions, as chief corresponding secretary 
of the navy, and lastly as comptroller of naval affairs, at Santo Domingo.

In 1760, he married Marguerite Charlotte Bizoton, daughter of Charles 
Bizoton, who was first secretary of the Comte de Blinac, governor of the 
French colony in Santo Domingo.  A. Bizoton subsequently was secretary of 
The Royal Admiralty court, appointed by King Louis XV.  Antoine Pierre 
d'Aquin died on the island of Alby, near Toulouse, France, in a monastery,
while he was resting, after King Louis XVI had granted him a pension of 3,000
livres.  He left a son, Charles Pierre d'Aquin, who was born in Santo
Domingo, educated in Paris, and who on his return to the island, married
Miss Louise Victoire Le Bon Lapointe.  having escaped death during the
massacre of the white colonists by the negro slaves, in the early part of
the 19th century, Mr. and Mrs. d'Aquin fled to Jamaica.  They reared a
family of 11 children, the eldest of whom, Louis Charles, was associated
with him in the management of 4 coffee plantations in the Blue mountain
region of Jamaica.  Louis Charles d'Aquin died in New Orleans in 1836,
leaving 4 children.  His youngest brother, Louis Thomas d'Aquin, had a
large family, and married twice.  His first wife was Miss Louise Desdunes,
and his second wife was Miss Louise Guex.  A daughter of Louis Charles
d'Aquin is still living in France, at the age of 81 years.  Her name is
Helene, widow of Frederick Allain.  The eldest son of Louis Thomas d'Aquin,
Jules by name, married Miss Marie Guex, and had 8 children, 7 of whom are
now living, viz.:  Louis,  Edgar,  James,  John,  Anna,  Jules, and
Richard.  Dr. John Joseph d'Aquin the subject of this sketch, was educated
in public and private schools, and at Spring Hill College, near Mobile,
Alabama, graduating in 1889 with the degree of A. B., and in 1891 receiving
the degree of A. M.  He entered the medical department of Tulane
university, and in 1892 received his diploma of M. D.  During several years
Dr. d'Aquin was a member of social and fraternal clubs and societies, but
as his professional duties increased he resigned from these organizations,
and now devotes himself exclusively to his large practice.  Dr. d'Aquin is
chief medical examiner for several life insurance companies, and for the
Wells-Fargo Express Co.  He is a member of the Orleans parish and of the
Louisiana State medical societies.  Although not having the time to be
actively interested in politics, Dr. d'Aquin exercises his right of
suffrage as a democrat.  In religion he is a Roman Catholic.  April 14,
1898, occurred the marriage of Dr. John Joseph d'Aquin and Miss Marcelle
Dessommes, daughter of Auguste, and Ernestine (Ducayet) Dessommes.  They
have two children,  Corinne, 15, and  John, 12 years of age.

Source:  Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3,
pp. 752-754.  Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit. D.  Published in 1914, by
Century Historical Association.