Florida Governor, Civil War Confederate Army Officer. A wealthy plantation owner and member of the Florida State Senate, he was elected as the 4th Governor of Florida in 1856. Assuming office in October 1857, he was instrumental in settling a long standing border dispute with the State of Georgia. Embroiled win the Secession Crisis like most political figures of the time, he anticipated the Florida would secede from the Union, and worked to build up the state's Militia system. When the Civil War began, he called for removal of all Federal forces in the state. His efforts to assume command of strategic forts in Florida for the Confederacy largely failed, as Fort Jefferson in the Key West islands and Fort Pickens off of Pensacola remained in Union hands through the duration of the war. When his term ended in October 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate army and was appointed Colonel and commander of the 7th Florida Infantry regiment in April 1862. he led the unit for a year until he was prostrated by illness and forced to resign his commission in April 1863. Less than a year and a half later he passed away at his plantation in March 1865.
Florida Governor, Civil War Confederate Army Officer. A wealthy plantation owner and member of the Florida State Senate, he was elected as the 4th Governor of Florida in 1856. Assuming office in October 1857, he was instrumental in settling a long standing border dispute with the State of Georgia. Embroiled win the Secession Crisis like most political figures of the time, he anticipated the Florida would secede from the Union, and worked to build up the state's Militia system. When the Civil War began, he called for removal of all Federal forces in the state. His efforts to assume command of strategic forts in Florida for the Confederacy largely failed, as Fort Jefferson in the Key West islands and Fort Pickens off of Pensacola remained in Union hands through the duration of the war. When his term ended in October 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate army and was appointed Colonel and commander of the 7th Florida Infantry regiment in April 1862. he led the unit for a year until he was prostrated by illness and forced to resign his commission in April 1863. Less than a year and a half later he passed away at his plantation in March 1865.
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