Catholic priest, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Vincennes, Indiana, 1846-1868, and thereafter rector of St. Augustine's Church, Jeffersonville, Indiana; defender of Catholic civil rights. Ernest Audran was born in Rennes, France, 8 October 1823. He received his classical education at the Royal College of Rennes and in 1839 came to America with his uncle, Celestine de la Hailandière, Vicar General of the Diocese of Vincennes, who that same year became the bishop there. Audran began his theological studies and at the same time served as secretary to Bishop Hailandière. He was ordained at the age of twenty-two on 16 April 1846. Appointed assistant pastor of the cathedral, he asked to go to Logansport instead, where he served for six months. For the next twenty-two years (1846-1868) he served as pastor of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Vincennes. Sent to Jeffersonville as rector of St. Augustine Church 3 December 1868, he served there until his death 10 December 1899.