Alcée Louis la Branche
Alcée Louis la Branche (1806 – August 17, 1861) was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Louisiana. He served one term as a Democrat. 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). 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. He died in Hot Springs, Virginia. Slavery. La Branche was a slaveholder. External links.