US Congressman. He was elected in 1822 as Florida Territory's first non-voting Delegate to the US House of Representatives and served from September of 1822 to March of 1823, the first Hispanic member of Congress. Born the son of Minorcan indentured servants in the Spanish colony of Florida, he was originally named Jose Mariano Hernandez. In 1818 he bought land for a rice, cotton and sugar plantation, which he named "Bella Vista", and eventually gained another two plantations with the slaves to work them. In 1814 he married the widowed Ana María Hill Williams and gained her 3,200-acre plantation. When Florida became a United States possession in 1821, he became a United States citizen and changed his name to Joseph Marion Hernandez. After leaving the House of Representatives, Hernandez was elected to the Florida territorial legislature and served as its Speaker. In the mid-1830s he was appointed Brigadier General of the Florida militia for the war against the Florida Indians, was later commissioned in the United States Army, and commanded the 1837 expedition that captured Osceola. In 1845 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the US Senate, after which he moved to Cuba. Hernandez managed his family's sugar plantation, "Audaz," an activity he was still engaged in when he died.
US Congressman. He was elected in 1822 as Florida Territory's first non-voting Delegate to the US House of Representatives and served from September of 1822 to March of 1823, the first Hispanic member of Congress. Born the son of Minorcan indentured servants in the Spanish colony of Florida, he was originally named Jose Mariano Hernandez. In 1818 he bought land for a rice, cotton and sugar plantation, which he named "Bella Vista", and eventually gained another two plantations with the slaves to work them. In 1814 he married the widowed Ana María Hill Williams and gained her 3,200-acre plantation. When Florida became a United States possession in 1821, he became a United States citizen and changed his name to Joseph Marion Hernandez. After leaving the House of Representatives, Hernandez was elected to the Florida territorial legislature and served as its Speaker. In the mid-1830s he was appointed Brigadier General of the Florida militia for the war against the Florida Indians, was later commissioned in the United States Army, and commanded the 1837 expedition that captured Osceola. In 1845 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the US Senate, after which he moved to Cuba. Hernandez managed his family's sugar plantation, "Audaz," an activity he was still engaged in when he died.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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