Birth name was Emile-Louis Biebuyck, from an important family in Ypres, Belgium. He changed his name to Gaston d'Artois, claiming to be from France, when he emigrated to America to seek his fortune. Joined the US Army in 1855 and served at Fort Dalles in Washington Territory (protecting the settlers from the Indians). Later served as Postmaster in El Dorado County, California, 1861, where his wife ran a public house and hotel. He then enlisted in the California Infantry and was Captain of the Sacramento Regiment during the Civil War, serving as the first commander of Fort Stevens in Oregon Territory. After the Civil War he fought for Mexico's independence and was arrested for "piracy," later acquitted. After some period of time as an employee for the railroad in Sacramento, he then worked with the Mexican government to attract citizens from Belgium and Mormons from Utah to settle Mexico. Next he was a traveling salesman for liquor distributors, visiting remote areas of Nevada, Arizona and California. He had 4 children, an unhappy marriage, and no financial success. He committed suicide by drinking strychnine, age 52.
Birth name was Emile-Louis Biebuyck, from an important family in Ypres, Belgium. He changed his name to Gaston d'Artois, claiming to be from France, when he emigrated to America to seek his fortune. Joined the US Army in 1855 and served at Fort Dalles in Washington Territory (protecting the settlers from the Indians). Later served as Postmaster in El Dorado County, California, 1861, where his wife ran a public house and hotel. He then enlisted in the California Infantry and was Captain of the Sacramento Regiment during the Civil War, serving as the first commander of Fort Stevens in Oregon Territory. After the Civil War he fought for Mexico's independence and was arrested for "piracy," later acquitted. After some period of time as an employee for the railroad in Sacramento, he then worked with the Mexican government to attract citizens from Belgium and Mormons from Utah to settle Mexico. Next he was a traveling salesman for liquor distributors, visiting remote areas of Nevada, Arizona and California. He had 4 children, an unhappy marriage, and no financial success. He committed suicide by drinking strychnine, age 52.
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