United States Congressman and Confederate States Senator. Maxwell grew up largely in Alabama, attended law school at the University of Virginia, and moved to Florida in 1845. He served for brief times as a member of the Florida House and Senate, and as Florida's Attorney-General, between 1846 and 1850.
A Democrat, he served two terms as Florida's at-large Representative in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1853 to 1857, where he worked effectively on various committees. During the Civil War, he was elected a Confederate States Senator from Florida, holding that office from 1862 to 1865. He was known as a staunch supporter of President Jefferson Davis, and worked to increase Florida's food production. He remained a popular figure in Florida after the War. He served briefly on the state Supreme Court in 1865-66, then again from 1887 to 1891 (two of those years as Chief Justice). He was a delegate to the Florida State Constitutional Convention in 1885, which discarded the post-Civil War state constitution for a new constitution that severely restricted the rights of black Floridians.
After leaving the Court, he resumed his law practice. His son Evelyn later also served on the Florida Supreme Court.
A Democrat, he served two terms as Florida's at-large Representative in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1853 to 1857, where he worked effectively on various committees. During the Civil War, he was elected a Confederate States Senator from Florida, holding that office from 1862 to 1865. He was known as a staunch supporter of President Jefferson Davis, and worked to increase Florida's food production. He remained a popular figure in Florida after the War. He served briefly on the state Supreme Court in 1865-66, then again from 1887 to 1891 (two of those years as Chief Justice). He was a delegate to the Florida State Constitutional Convention in 1885, which discarded the post-Civil War state constitution for a new constitution that severely restricted the rights of black Floridians.
After leaving the Court, he resumed his law practice. His son Evelyn later also served on the Florida Supreme Court.
United States Congressman and Confederate States Senator. Maxwell grew up largely in Alabama, attended law school at the University of Virginia, and moved to Florida in 1845. He served for brief times as a member of the Florida House and Senate, and as Florida's Attorney-General, between 1846 and 1850.
A Democrat, he served two terms as Florida's at-large Representative in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1853 to 1857, where he worked effectively on various committees. During the Civil War, he was elected a Confederate States Senator from Florida, holding that office from 1862 to 1865. He was known as a staunch supporter of President Jefferson Davis, and worked to increase Florida's food production. He remained a popular figure in Florida after the War. He served briefly on the state Supreme Court in 1865-66, then again from 1887 to 1891 (two of those years as Chief Justice). He was a delegate to the Florida State Constitutional Convention in 1885, which discarded the post-Civil War state constitution for a new constitution that severely restricted the rights of black Floridians.
After leaving the Court, he resumed his law practice. His son Evelyn later also served on the Florida Supreme Court.
A Democrat, he served two terms as Florida's at-large Representative in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1853 to 1857, where he worked effectively on various committees. During the Civil War, he was elected a Confederate States Senator from Florida, holding that office from 1862 to 1865. He was known as a staunch supporter of President Jefferson Davis, and worked to increase Florida's food production. He remained a popular figure in Florida after the War. He served briefly on the state Supreme Court in 1865-66, then again from 1887 to 1891 (two of those years as Chief Justice). He was a delegate to the Florida State Constitutional Convention in 1885, which discarded the post-Civil War state constitution for a new constitution that severely restricted the rights of black Floridians.
After leaving the Court, he resumed his law practice. His son Evelyn later also served on the Florida Supreme Court.
Bio by: Jeffry Burden
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