Coming to America

Octave Alexandre Chanut was born on 18 February 1832 in Paris, France. When his father Joseph Chanut accepted a position as Vice-President and History Professor at Jefferson College, just north of New Orleans in the fall of 1838, he took his son along to the New World.

In 1854 he became an American Citizen, Americanized his name by adding the letter “e” to his family name and dropping his middle name. He became Octave Chanute.

A poster of an old, balding man with a beard.
Poster of Octave Chanute

Poster designed by Barbara Kern. Photo courtesy the Chanute family.
An old photograph of the same man as above, wearing a bowtie.
Photo of Octave Chanute

1856. Original photo in the Chanute family possession, Denver, CO. Courtesy the Chanute family.
An old photograph of a woman in Victorian dress.
Annie Riddel James Chanute

Original photo in the Chanute family possession, Denver, CO. Courtesy the Chanute family

Married to Octave Chanute, 12 March 1857. The photo was probably taken at that time.