Alcée Louis la Branche (1806 – August 17, 1861) was an American politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Louisiana. He served one term as a Democrat from 1843 to 1845. Biography La Branche was born near New Orleans, the son of Alexandre La Branche (a Revolutionary War regimental commander whose family had emigrated to Louisiana from Bavaria and had changed its surname from the German "Zweig" to the French "Branche," with both names meaning "branch") and Marie Jeanne Piseros (whose family was of Spanish ancestry). La Branche attended the Université de Sorèze in Sorèze (France). Political career He served as Speaker of the House of the Louisiana State House of Representatives in 1833 and later served as Chargé d'Affaires to the Republic of Texas. He served in Congress from 1843 until 1845. Death He died in Hot Springs, Virginia. Slavery La Branche was a slaveholder. See also List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress References External links Bio at Congress.gov Political Graveyard Bio at Handbook of Texas Online La Branche at the Office of the Historian 1806 births 1861 deaths American people of Spanish descent Democratic Party members of the Louisiana House of Representatives Speakers of the Louisiana House of Representatives American people of German descent Louisiana Creole people of Spanish descent Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress Ambassadors of the United States to the Republic of Texas Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana 19th-century American diplomats 19th-century American politicians