Florida,
One of the
United States; lies between lat. 31° and 24° 30′ N., and long.
79° 48′ and 87° 38′ W. The
Perdido River separates it from
Alabama on the west.
It is mostly a peninsula, 275 miles long and averaging 90 miles in width, extending south to the
Strait of Bimini, and separating the
Gulf of Mexico from the
Atlantic Ocean.
Georgia and
Alabama bound it on the north.
Area, 59,268 square miles in forty-five counties.
Population, 1890, 391,422; 1900, 528,542.
Capital,
Tallahassee.
Juan
Ponce de Leon, sailing from
Porto Rico in search of new lands, discovers
Florida, March 27; lands near
St. Augustine, plants the cross, and takes possession in the name of the
Spanish monarch......April 2, 1512
Diego Miruelo, a pilot, sails from
Cuba with one vessel, touches at
Florida, and obtains pieces of gold from the natives......1516
Spaniards, under Francis
Hernandez de Cordova, land in
Florida, but are driven off by the natives and return to
Cuba......1517
Ponce de Leon, having returned to
Porto Rico and obtained title and privileges of Adelantado of
Florida, fits out two vessels and revisits
Florida.
Driven off by the natives, he soon after dies in
Cuba......1521
Panfilo de Narvaez, commissioned to conquer and govern the mainland from the river of Palms near
Tampico to
Cape Florida, lands at
Tampa Bay with 400 men and eighty horses......April 15, 1528
Fernando de Soto, leaving
Cuba, lands at
Tampa Bay, which he calls Espiritu Santo, with about 1,000 men and 350 horses, and passing north through
Florida, erects a cross of wood near the northern boundary.
He lands......May 25, 1539
Don
Tristan de Luna, with about 1,500 soldiers and many zealous friars, anchors in Santa Maria Bay (probably
Pensacola), establishes a camp, from which he makes excursions......Aug. 14, 1559
Expedition fitted out by
Admiral Coligni, under
Capt. Jean Ribault, on the way north along the coast, places at the entrance of
St. John's River a monument of stones bearing the arms of
France, and builds Fort Charles......1562
Rene de Laudonniere, with three vessels sent from
France by
Coligni, settles at point now known as St. John's Bluff......June 22, 1564
Sir John Hawkins, with four vessels, anchored at
Laudonniere's settlement, and, seeing the settlers in great need, offers to take them back to
France.
Laudonniere refuses, but buys a vessel of
Hawkins, who sets sail......Aug. 15, 1565
Seven vessels under
Ribault, from
Dieppe, May 23, with 500 men and families of artisans, land at river
St. John......Aug. 29, 1565
Don Pedro Menendez de Avilla arrives from
Spain with an expedition at
St. Augustine, Aug. 28, 1565.
Re-embarking, they discover four large vessels of the
French anchored at the mouth of the
St. John.
Being fired upon by the
Spanish, the
French put to sea, and
Menendez returns to
St. Augustine, lands, and takes possession of the country in the name of the
King of
Spain......Sept. 8, 1565
Menendez, with 500 men, attacks and massacres the settlers of
Laudonniere at
Fort Caroline, few of the
French escaping.
He calls the fort San Mateo......Sept. 19, 1565
Ribault sails to surprise the
Spanish, Sept. 10, but by a tempest is driven ashore near Mosquito Inlet, and followed up by
Menendez, and all who reject the
Catholic faith are massacred......September, 1565
Laudonniere, with eighteen or twenty fugitives, the survivors of the massacre at
Fort Caroline, sails for
France......Sept. 25, 1565
Menendez sails for
Spain, having in eighteen months established forts and
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block-houses at
St. Augustine,
San Mateo, Avista, Guale, St. Helena, Tequesta, Carlos, Tocobayo, and Coava......spring, 1567
Father Sedeño and Brother Baez begin a mission among Indians on Guale (
Amelia) Island; the latter compiles a catechism in Indian language......1568
Dominic de Gourgues lands near the mouth of
St. Mary's River, at
Fernandina, with 184 men. Befriended by Indians hostile to the
Spanish, and seeking revenge for the
French, he surprises the
Spanish, destroys Fort San Mateo, and sets sail for
France......May 3, 1568
Menendez, having returned, spends a few years in
Florida, then leaves the government to his relative,
Marquis de Menendez, and again goes to
Spain......1572
Sir Francis Drake lands at
St. Augustine and destroys the fort which the Spaniards abandoned, but rebuilt immediately after his departure......May 8, 1586
Twelve brothers of the Order of
St. Francis sent to
Florida to continue the mission on the island of Guale......1593
Son of the chief of Guale incites a general conspiracy, and the missionaries are massacred......1598
War between the
Spanish and
Apalachee Indians, who are conquered, and a large number set to work on the fortifications of
St. Augustine......1638
Diego de Rebellado succeeds to the house of
Menendez as captain-general of
Florida......1655
St. Augustine pillaged by buccaneers under
Capt. John Davis, an Englishman......1665
Don Juan Hita de Salacar,
captain-general of
Florida......1675
Don Juan Marquez de Cabrera, captaingeneral of
Florida......1680
Marquez Cabrera attempts to remove tribes of
Florida Indians from the interior to the islands on the coast; an insurrection follows, and some tribes removing to
Carolina make incursions into
Florida......about 1681
Three galleys of Spaniards from
St. Augustine break up the colony of Scots on
Port Royal Island, S. C.......1686
Don
Laureano de Torres, governor of
east Florida......1693
Andres de Arriola appointed first governor of a Spanish colony at
Pensacola, with a fort, “Charles,” and other public buildings......1696
Don Joseph Cuniga, governor of
St. Augustine......1701
St. Augustine besieged by a land expedition from
Carolina under
Colonel Daniel and a naval force under
Governor Moore; two Spanish vessels appearing off the harbor,
Governor Moore raises the siege......1702
Carolina troops under
Colonel Moore move against the Indians in
north Florida and fight the Spaniards under Don Juan Mexia, at
Fort San Luis, near
Tallahassee......Jan. 15, 1703
Combined attack of French and Spaniards unsuccessfully made upon
Charleston, S. C.......August, 1706
Don
Gregorio de Salinas, governor of
Pensacola, succeeded by
Don Juan Pedro Metamoras......1717
Don
Antonio de Benavuedi y Malina appointed governor of
east Florida to succeed Don
Juan de Ayala......1718
Expedition against
Pensacola fitted out by
M. de Bienville, the
French commander at
Mobile, captures the fort and takes the garrison to
Havana in two French vessels;
Governor Metamoras immediately equips an expedition and recaptures the fort......1719
French, under
Desnade de Champmeslin, besiege
Pensacola, destroying the fortifications and public buildings and capturing the fort and
Santa Rosa Island......Sept. 18, 1719
Pensacola restored to
Spain by peace with
France; Spaniards rebuild the town on
Santa Rosa Island near where
Fort Pickens now stands......1722
Colonel Palmer, of Carolina, with 300 men and a band of friendly
Indians, makes a rapid, unexpected, and effectual descent upon Indian and Spanish settlements in
Florida......1727
Don Francisco Moral
Sanchez, governor of
St. Augustine, for an unsatisfactory treaty with the
English under
General Oglethorpe, is recalled to
Spain and executed......1736
Don Manuel Joseph de Justis, sent in place of
Governor Moral, is succeeded by Don
Manuel de Monteano......1737
General Oglethorpe, governor of
Georgia, arrives at the mouth of
St. John's River and captures Fort San Diego......May 24, 1740
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General Oglethorpe destroys Fort Moosa, which he finds deserted, but afterwards places there a garrison of Highlanders under
Colonel Palmer......June, 1740
English, reinforced by a Carolina regiment, open the siege of
St. Augustine......June 24, 1740
Three hundred Spaniards capture Fort Moosa;
Colonel Palmer killed in action......June 25, 1740
General Oglethorpe hearing of the arrival of Spanish vessels with supplies for besieged, and many of his men being sick and discouraged, raises the siege......July 20, 1740
Spanish fleet of thirty-six sail, under
Governor Monteano, enters harbor of
St. Simons, Ga., and after four hours engagement
Oglethorpe abandons the works and retires to
Frederica......July 5, 1742
After an unsuccessful attack on
Frederica,
Governor Monteano, scared by a decoy letter sent by
Oglethorpe, and by three vessels from
Charleston, sails away from
Florida......July 14, 1742
Oglethorpe makes a sudden descent upon
St. Augustine, but captures only a few Spaniards......March 9, 1743
Noted Indian
chief Secoffee, with his tribe, settles in Alachua, about the centre of
Florida; founder of the
Seminole nation......1750
Don Alonzo Fernandez de Herrera appointed governor of
Florida......1755
Treaty ceding
east and
west Florida to
Great Britain in exchange for
Havana and the west part of
Cuba ratified......Feb. 10, 1763
Temporary command of province given to
Major Ogilvie......1763
By proclamation,
King of
Great Britain divides
Florida into two provinces, east and west, by the
Apalachicola River;
west Florida extending to the
Mississippi and north from
Gulf to lat. 31°......Oct. 7, 1763
Gen. James Grant appointed first English governor of
east Florida......1763
Pensacola laid out as a city, with streets at right angles, making squares 400 by 200 feet......1763
Dennis Rolle, obtaining from the
British government a grant of 40,000 acres, embarks from
England with 100 families and settles on east side of the
St. John's River at Rollstown......1765
King's Road, from Fort Barrington to
St. Augustine, constructed by subscription from public-spirited men in
Florida......1765
Forty families from
Bermuda emigrate to Mosquito to engage in ship-building......1766
Fifteen hundred Greeks, Italians, and Minorcans, indentured to work for a company organized in
England by
Sir William Duncan and
Dr. Andrew Turnbull, form a settlement at Mosquito called New Smyrna......1767
Gen. James Grant, returning to
England, is succeeded by
Lieut.-Gov. John Moultrie......1771
Col. Patrick Tonyn, sent from
England to assume the governorship of
east Florida, arrives......March, 1774
British vessel,
The Betsy, from
London, with 111 barrels of powder, captured off
St. Augustine by a privateer from
Carolina......August, 1775
Colonists at New Smyrna institute proceedings to annul their indentures, and, being successful, remove to
St. Augustine......1776
Governor of
east Florida calls out the militia to join the royal troops in resisting “the perfidious insinuations” of the neighboring colonies......1776
Sixty of the most distinguished citizens of
Carolina are seized by the
British and transported as prisoners to
St. Augustine......1780
Governor Tonyn, owing to the state of public affairs, is forced to call a General Assembly, which meets......March 17, 1781
Don
Bernardo de Galvez, assisted by a naval force under
Admiral Solana, invests
Pensacola; Forts St. Michel and St. Bernard garrisoned by 1,000 English under
General Campbell; the magazine of fort exploding,
General Campbell capitulates......March, 1781
Country west of
Pensacola as far as the
Mississippi River receded to
Great Britain by
Spain......1781
Expedition under
Colonel Devereux sails from
St. Augustine, and with fifty men captures the
Bahama Islands from
Spain......1783
By treaty,
Great Britain cedes to
Spain east and
west Florida, evacuation to take place within three months......Sept. 3, 1783
Governor Zespedez, the new Spanish governor, arrives at
St Augustine and
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takes possession of
Florida in the name of the
King of
Spain......June, 1784
Alexander McGillivray, chief of the
Creeks, forms a treaty with the
Spanish governor in behalf of the
Creek and
Seminole Indians, engaging to prevent white men from entering the country without a Spanish permit......1784
William Augustus Bowles, in British employ, who had won the favor of the
Creeks at
Pensacola, captures Fort St. Marks and holds it for several weeks until
Governor O'Neil of
Pensacola drives him out, arrests and sends him prisoner to
Cuba......1789
General McIntosh, after imprisonment for a year in
Cuba because of the jealousy of the
Spanish governor, Quesada, returns to
Florida, gathers followers, destroys a Spanish fort at
Jacksonville and several Spanish galleys; returns to
Georgia......1794
Spain recedes to
France all of
west Florida lying west of the
Perdido River......1795
Band of
Seminole Indians, or “runaways,” from the
Creek nation, settle near the present site of
Tallahassee......1808
Congress authorizes the
President to seize
west Florida if a foreign power attempts to capture it......Jan. 15, 1811
Settlers on the northern border of
Florida organize a provisional government, with
Gen. John H. McIntosh governor of the republic and
Colonel Ashley military chief......1812
Fernandina, at this time a depot of neutral trade, garrisoned by Spanish troops under
Don Jose Lopez, is besieged by
General McIntosh and capitulates......March 17, 1812
Governor Kindelan, sent from
Spain to succeed
Colonel Estrada,
acting governor of
Florida, demands withdrawal of United States troops......1812
Company of United States troops, mostly invalids, under command of
Lieutenant Williams, is attacked by negroes under
Prince, sent by the governor of
St. Augustine; negroes are dispersed after mortally wounding
Lieutenant Williams......May 12, 1812
Monument erected in the public square at
St. Augustine by order of the
Spanish Cortes, to commemorate the liberal constitution granted to
Spain and her colonies......Oct: 17, 1812
British fleet enters Pensacola Harbor and garrisons forts Michel and
Barrancas with British troops, by consent of the
Spanish governor......August, 1814
General Jackson, with 5,000 Tennessee volunteers, captures
Pensacola and Fort Michel;
Fort Barrancas is blown up by the
British......Nov. 7, 1814
United States troops, under
Col. Duncan L. Clinch, unexpectedly reinforced by Creek Indians on the same errand, and aided by two gunboats, attack a fort on the
Apalachicola River established by the
British as a refuge for runaway negroes, and commanded by a negro named
Garcia; a hot shot from gunboat “154,” entering the magazine, blows it up; out of 350 men, women, and children in the fort not over fifty escape......Aug. 24, 1816
By order of the
President of the
United States,
Captain Henly invests and breaks up a depot for smugglers and buccaneering privateers on
Amelia Island, under the
Spanish flag, and led by
Gregor McGregor and
Louis Aury......Dec. 23, 1817
General Jackson, aided by Creeks under a treaty, attacks the Seminoles in
Florida, destroying the
Miccosukee and
Fowl towns and Fort Marks......1818
General Jackson, the
Spanish governor at
Pensacola furnishing arms to the hostile
Indians and blockading his supplies up the
Escambia, marches to
Pensacola and captures it......1818
General Jackson hangs
Arbuthnot and
Ambrister......April 30, 1818
East and
west Florida ceded to
United States by treaty and purchase,
Spain receiving $5,000,000......Feb. 22, 1819
Change of flags at
St. Augustine under
Governor Coppinger, on the part of
Spain, and
Col. Robert Butler, of the
United States......July 10, 1821
Change of flags at
Pensacola,
Governor Callava representing
Spain, and
General Jackson the
United States......July 21, 1821
General Jackson appointed governor of
Florida on change of flags......1821
Juan P. Salas sells to
John W. Simonton his title to
Key West obtained from the
Spanish government in 1815......Dec. 20, 1821
General Jackson in west, and
Captain
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Hanham in
East Florida, wrest papers and archives from the
Spanish governors......1821
Act for a territorial government in
Florida of all territory ceded by
Spain to
United States, known as
East and
West Florida......March 30, 1822
William P. Duval appointed territorial governor......1822
First legislative council meets at
Pensacola......June, 1822
Key West made a naval depot and station of the
United States, under command of
Commodore Porter......1822
By Congress
East and
West Florida are united, and legislative council meets at
St. Augustine......March 30, 1823
Treaty of
Fort Moultrie; the Indians of
Florida agree to remove within certain limits, the northern line being about 20 miles south of
Micanopy......Sept. 18, 1823
Dr. William H. Simmons and
John L. Williams, commissioners of legislative council, select
Tallahassee as capital......October, 1823
First house in new capital erected......1824
Name of the castle of
St. Marks at
St. Augustine changed to
Fort Marion......Jan. 7, 1825
Florida Institute of Agriculture, Antiquities, and Sciences organized at
Tallahassee, and holds its first public meeting......Jan. 4, 1827
Treaty of Payne's Landing between
Col. James Gadsden,
United States commissioner, and the
Seminole Indians; who surrender their lands in
Florida for an equal area in
Indian Territory, agreeing to remove within three years......May 9, 1833
Additional treaty made at
Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, with representative chiefs of Seminoles, assigning them a tract in the
Indian Territory......March 28, 1834
Proclamation of
President Jackson announcing the ratification of the treaty of Payne's Landing and
Fort Gibson......April 12, 1834
State-house in
Tallahassee begun, 1826; finished......1834
John H. Eaton appointed territorial governor......1834
United States officer at Fort King notifies
General Thompson, Indian agent for
Florida, of the determination of influential chiefs of
Florida Indians not to emigrate......October, 1834
Severest cold ever known in
Florida; the
St. John's River frozen several rods from the shore, and thermometer marks 7° above zero, a northwest wind for three days......about Feb. 8, 1835
A council at the
Indian agency extends.
time for removal to Jan. 1, 1836; eight chiefs agree to emigrate, five refuse......April 24, 1835
Battle near
Wahoo Swamp; United States troops attacked by Indians under Micanopy,
Jumper, and Alligator, and.
Major Dade's command massacred......Dec. 28, 1835
Seminole chief Osceola, seeking revenge for recent imprisonment by the whites, with about twenty Indians surprises
General Thompson and a friend while walking near the
Indian agency, and kills and scalps them......Dec. 28, 1835.
Battle of General Clinch with Indians under
Osceola and Alligator, near the
Withlacoochee River......Dec. 31, 1835.
Battle at Dunlawtown of
Major Putnam with Indians under King Philip......Jan. 18, 1836
General Gaines, with troops from New Orleans, attacked by Indians while seeking to ford the
Withlacoochee......Feb. 29, 1836
Richard Keith Call appointed territorial governor......March, 1836
Defence of
Cooper's post west of the
Withlacoochee by Georgia volunteers under
Major Cooper against 250
Seminole warriors......April 5-7, 1836
Railroad from
St. Joseph to bayou
Columbus opened......1836
Battles between the United States troops and Indians in
Florida, at
Micanopy, June 9; Welika Pond, July 9; Ridgely's Mills, July 27;
Fort Drane, Aug. 21; San Velasco......Sept. 18, 1836
General Call relieved;
Gen. Thomas S. Jesup takes command......November, 1836
Battle of Wahoo Swamp ends the campaign of 1836; results of the year encourage the Seminoles......Nov. 17-21, 1836
Attack on Camp Monroe by 400 Seminoles under King Philip repulsed......Feb. 8, 1837
Four hundred Seminoles attack
Fort Mellon, on
Lake Monroe, and retire......Feb. 9, 1837
Indians assembled in large numbers at Fort Dade, by articles of capitulation agree to withdraw south of the
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Hillsboro River, and prepare at once to emigrate to the
West......March 6, 1837
General Hernandez captures two camps of Indians and negroes......Sept. 10, 1837
General Hernandez, by order of
General Jesup, captures
Osceola and sends him to
Fort Moultrie, S. C., as a prisoner......Oct. 21, 1837
General Taylor routs a large Indian force at Okeechobee Lake......Dec. 25, 1837
Battle at Wacassassa River......Dec. 26, 1837
Action with Seminoles at
Jupiter Inlet;
General Jesup wounded......Jan. 24, 1838
General Jesup offering peace, many Indians come into camp, agreeing to let the
President decide whether they remain in the country or not......February, 1838
President determining to enforce the treaties,
General Jesup captures about 700 Indians and negroes......March 22, 1838
Over 1,000 Indians removed to the
Western reservation......1838
Gen. Zachary Taylor takes command in
Florida,
General Jesup retiring......May 15, 1838
Territory of Florida, in convention at
St. Joseph, forms a State constitution......Dec. 3, 1838
Robert H. Reid appointed territorial governor......1839
Indians attack
Colonel Harney's post on the Carloosahatchee......July 23, 1839
During this and four years previous
Florida furnished 5,342 volunteers for the
Indian war......1839
General Taylor asking to be relieved,
Brevet Brig.-Gen. W. R. Armistead is assigned to command in
Florida......May 6, 1840
Battles with Indians at Fort King,
Marion county, April 28; Waccahoota, Sept. 6; Everglades, Dec. 3-24; Micanopy......Dec. 28, 1840
Battle at
Fort Brooke......March 2, 1841
General Armistead relieved at his request, and
Gen. William J. Worth takes command......May 31, 1841
Richard K. Call reappointed territorial governor......1841
Battle at
Hawe Creek, Jan. 25; at Pilakikaha......April 19, 1842
General Worth, by
general order, announces the cessation of hostilities with Indians in
Florida......Aug. 14, 1842
Officers and soldiers who died in the
Florida war buried at
St. Augustine with military honors and a monument erected by their comrades......Aug. 15, 1842
John Branch, territorial governor......1844
Congress grants eight sections of public lands in
Florida for seat of government, one section in each township for public schools, two townships for two seminaries of learning, and five per cent. from sales of public lands for educational purposes; State admitted to the
Union......March 3, 1845
William D. Moseley, governor of the new State......1845
Destructive hurricane passes over
Key West......Oct. 11, 1846
Thomas Brown, governor......1849
Public meeting in
St. Augustine petitions the federal government for removal of all Indians from the
State......Aug. 25, 1849
Chief and six sub-chiefs of the Seminoles and Micasukies and a delegate from the Tallahassees meet
General Twiggs in council and agree to remove west of the
Mississippi and try to persuade their people to do so......Jan. 21, 1850
Two State seminaries of learning organized, one at
Palatka, known as the seminary east of the
Suwanee, and the other at
Tallahassee, known as the seminary west of the
Suwanee......1857
Most of the
Florida Indians emigrate to
Indian Territory; United States troops mustered out......1858
Fort Marion seized by Confederates of
St. Augustine by order of the governor......Jan. 7, 1861
Fort Clinch, in construction on
Amelia Island, seized by Confederates......January, 1861
Apalachicola arsenal, established in 1833, captured by Confederates......January, 1861
State convention at
Tallahassee passes an ordinance of secession—yeas 62, nays 7 —amending the constitution by inserting the words “
Confederate States” in place of “
United States” ......Jan. 10, 1861
Forts Barrancas and
McRae and the navy-yards at
Pensacola seized by Confederates......Jan. 12, 1861
Forts McRae and
Barrancas dismantled......April, 1861
Federals in
Fort Pickens, near
Pensacola,
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are reinforced by troops from New York and
Illinois, on steamer
Atlantic......April 16-23, 1861
Confederate coast guard seize the light-house and all United States government property at
Key Biscayne, Fla.......Aug. 23, 1861
Confederates attack the Wilson Guards on
Santa Rosa .Island......Oct. 9, 1861
Frigates
Niagara and
Richmond bombard
forts McRae,
Barrancas, and
Pickens......Nov. 23, 1861
Federal fleet under
Admiral Dupont, with slight resistance, takes St. Mary's,
Fernandina, and
Fort Clinch......1862
Electoral vote cast for
Jefferson Davis......Feb. 12, 1862
St. Augustine taken by Federals without resistance......March 11, 1862
Jacksonville surrendered to
Dupont......March 12, 1862
Jacksonville evacuated by Federals......April 9, 1862
Confederate fort on St. John's bluff,
St. John's River, captured by Federals......Oct. 3, 1862
Federals again take
Jacksonville......Oct. 5, 1862
St. Mary's shelled and burned by Federal gunboat
Mohawk......Nov. 9, 1862
Jacksonville taken by Federals under
Colonel Higginson......March 10, 1863
Federals badly defeated at
Olustee......Feb. 20, 1864
Regarding
Florida as still a State of the
Union, a convention at
Jacksonville appoints delegates to the Presidential convention, to meet June 7, at
Baltimore......May 24, 1864
By proclamation,
President Johnson appoints
William Marvin provisional governor......July 13, 1865
Delegates elected to State convention at
Tallahassee......Oct. 10, 1865
Convention at
Tallahassee adopts a new constitution without submission to the people and repeals the ordinance of secession .......Oct. 28, 1865
President Johnson proclaims “that the insurrection which heretofore existed in the
State of Florida is at an end and is henceforth to be so regarded” ......April 2, 1866
Meeting at
Tallahassee forms a State educational association......May 20, 1867
Colonel Sprague,
military commander of District of Florida; headquarters at
Tallahassee (later at
Jacksonville)......May 31, 1867
Republican Convention at
Tallahassee; 129 delegates......July 11, 1867
Convention organizing a Conservative party (Constitutional Union) at
Tallahassee appoints a State committee......Sept. 25, 1867
Forty-one out of forty-six delegates elected to constitutional convention at
Tallahassee; organize, but disagree as to the eligibility of four of their number......Jan. 20, 1868
Fifteen members of the constitutional convention decide not to attend the meetings......Feb. 1, 1868
D. Richards, president of convention, announces for twenty or twenty-two delegates that they, a legal quorum, have framed and adopted a constitution ignoring the constitution of 1865......Feb. 6, 1868
Fifteen members meet at
Tallahassee and elect
Horatio Jenkins president......Feb. 8, 1868
General Meade calls the delegates together, and
Colonel Sprague acting as chairman,
Richards and
Jenkins resign, and
Jenkins is appointed president of the convention......Feb. 18, 1868
State constitution adopted; eight delegates sign under protest, nine refuse......Feb. 25, 1868
New constitution ratified by the people......May, 1868
Legislature meets and adopts the Fourteenth Amendment......June, 1868
Military and civil governments surrendered to
Harrison Reed, who is inaugurated as governor......July 4, 1868
Unsuccessful attempt to impeach
Governor Reed of high crimes and misdemeanors in office......1868
Legislature provides for a State board of education......1869
Fifteenth Amendment ratified by
House and Senate......June 11 and 16,
Harvey S. Harmon admitted to the bar at Alucha circuit court, by
Judge J. H. Gross; first negro admitted in
Florida......1869
People of
Florida west of the
Choctawhatchee River vote by a majority for annexation to
Alabama, the conditions fixed by commissioners being “the consent of
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Congress and consideration of $1,000,000 paid to
Florida by
Alabama” .Nov. 2, 1869
Equalization act passed by legislature......Jan. 27, 1871
Taxation felt to be unnecessarily heavy; delegates from nearly all the counties meet at
Lake City and appoint a finance committee to “examine into the financial condition of the
State” and to call on the governor to interfere......Sept. 6, 1871
Proclamation of governor calling on the people not to bring the law into contempt by refusal to pay taxes, and promising enforcement of the equalization act till declared unconstitutional or repealed......Nov. 6, 1871
Attempt to remove
Governor Reed by impeachment unsuccessfully renewed......February, 1872
Act reorganizing the State agricultural college, proposed by a former legislature, and making the superintendent of public instruction its president......1872
Act at special session of the legislature refunding the
State indebtedness (total bonded debt, $1,430,223.48)......February, 1873
Marcellus L. Stearns succeeds
Governor Hart, who died......March 18, 1874
Florida Fruit Growers' Association opens a few days' session at
Jacksonville......Jan. 20, 1875
At a special election, amendments to the constitution are ratified by the people......May 4, 1875
After the November Presidential election three sets of certificates of electoral votes were sent to
Washington: (1) that of Republican electors, signed by
Governor Stearns; (2) that of Democratic electors, signed by
Attorney-General Cocke; (3) that of Democratic electors made under act of the legislature and signed by
Governor Drew......December, 1876-January, 1877
Act authorizing State
adjutant-general to lease convicts......March 3, 1877
Convention of colored men at
Tallahassee addresses the colored people of the
State on education and acquiring homesteads and fostering habits of industry and sobriety......July 4, 1877
Governor Drew procures conveyance to the
State of nearly 1,800,000 acres of government land under act of Congress relating to swamp and overflowed lands......1880
State sells 4,000,000 acres of State land south of
Ocala and east of the
Kissimmee River to
Hamilton Disston and associates of
Philadelphia for $1,000,000......1881
Active work begun on a contract with
Philadelphia capitalists for draining
Lake Okeechobee and reclaiming land; half of reclaimed land to go to the contractors......1882
Trustees remove the State university from Eau
Gallie to
Lake City and incorporate the Florida University......1883
At the November election a new constitution, formed by the convention of 1885, ratified by the people......Nov. 2, 1886
Discovery of phosphate rock in abundance near Dunnellen,
Marion county......June, 1889
Sub-tropical exposition opens at
Jacksonville......Jan. 9, 1890
Constitutional amendment adopted providing that the election of State officers shall be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in October every second year......November, 1890
Supreme council of the
National Farmers' Alliance begins its session at
Ocala......Dec. 2, 1890
Gen. Francis E. Spinner,
ex-Secretary of the Treasury of the
United States, born 1802, dies at
Jacksonville......Dec. 31, 1890
Large deposit of Kaolin clay discovered in
Putnam and
Lake counties......February and March, 1891
United States Senator Wilkinson Call secures renomination on the eighty-sixth ballot in caucus, by vote of 52 to 42 for
D. H. Mays and 2 for
ex-Governor Bloxham......May 25, 1891
Senator Call declared re-elected by fifty-one votes in joint session, a majority of both Houses; but as only fifteen
Senators and thirty-nine members of the
House attended, his election is disputed, there being no quorum of the Senate......May 26, 1891
Monument to the
Confederate dead unveiled at
Pensacola......June 17, 1891
Governor appoints
R. H. M. Davidson United States Senator to fill the supposed vacancy......Sept. 15, 1891
Ex.-Gov. Marcellus L. Stearns dies at
Palatine Bridge, N. Y., aged fifty-three......Dec. 8, 1891
Senator Wilkinson Call seated in United States Senate......Dec. 8, 1891
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Large beds of yellow and red ochre found in
Levy and
Dade counties......1893
Fuller's earth in large quantities found in a number of counties in the
State......April and May, 1893
Disastrous freeze; temperature at
Tallahassee fell to 18 degrees; fruit frozen on the trees as far south as Bartow; the vegetable crop a total loss......Dec. 28-29, 1894
Freezing weather all over the
State, northwest blizzard causing mercury to fall to 10 degrees at
Tallahassee.
Orange and other tropical fruit trees killed to the ground as far south as lat. 27 1/2
N. Loss estimated at $200,000,000......1895
Florida East Coast Railway completed from
Jacksonville to
Miami, on
Biscayne Bay, 366 miles......1896
Platform breaks at a Bryan meeting in
St. Augustine, 200 injured......April 8, 1897
General Shafter embarked his army for the invasion of
Cuba from
Tampa......June 12-14, 1898
Monument to the
Confederate dead of
Florida erected by
Charles C. Hemming, and presented to the city, unveiled in
Jacksonville......June 17, 1898
Mercury fell to 2 degrees below zero at
Tallahassee; snow fell as far south as
Tampa; freezing almost as far south as
Dade county; cold of short duration and damage not material......Feb. 13, 1899
A large deposit of natural cement discovered in
Gadsden county......May, 1900
Ex-Gov. George F. Drew dies at
Jacksonville......Sept. 30, 1900
Constitutional amendments providing for representation of new counties when formed, and the election by the people of county commissioners, adopted......Nov. 6, 1900
Fire in
Jacksonville destroyed almost all of the residence and business portion of the city; loss estimated at $15,000,000......May 3, 1901
Legislature provided free scholarships at
De Funiak Springs......May 28, 1901
Georgia 
