U.S. Congressman, Florida Governor. He was the first civilian governor of the Territory of Florida, following Andrew Jackson, who was in the military. Under his 12-year term, the state was divided into four regions with the city of Tallahassee becoming the state capital. Born the son of a well-to-do Virginia Revolutionary War officer, William Duval and his wife Anne Pope, his father emancipated his slaves early in the 19th century. Moving to Kentucky frontier from Virginia, the age of 14, he studied law, was admitted to the bar at age 19 and practiced law. In 1804 he married Nancy Hynes. During the Indian conflicts of 1812, he commanded a company of mounted Kentucky Volunteers. In 1813, he was elected as a Republican to the Thirteenth Congress, serving until 1815. After his term, he was appointed United States judge for the east Florida district in 1821. In 1822, President James Monroe appointed him as the first non-military Governor of the Florida Territory, serving until 1834. During his term, he was known for his peaceful dealings with the Native Americans. He accomplished the removal of the Seminole Indians to South Florida. After his term, he continued to practice law in Florida. From 1839 to 1842 he was a senator in the Florida legislature. In 1845 when Florida was becoming a new state in the Union, he served as a commissioner to settle the disputed northern boundary of Florida. He relocated to Texas in 1848 with many of his eight children and settled at Galveston to practice law. His sons played roles in the movement for Texas independence, becoming active in Texas politics. While in Washington D.C. on a business trip, he died at age 69. Duval County in northeast Florida with the main city being Jacksonville was named in his honor as well as a few streets throughout the state. A World War II battleship was named in his honor, the "SS William P. Duval."
U.S. Congressman, Florida Governor. He was the first civilian governor of the Territory of Florida, following Andrew Jackson, who was in the military. Under his 12-year term, the state was divided into four regions with the city of Tallahassee becoming the state capital. Born the son of a well-to-do Virginia Revolutionary War officer, William Duval and his wife Anne Pope, his father emancipated his slaves early in the 19th century. Moving to Kentucky frontier from Virginia, the age of 14, he studied law, was admitted to the bar at age 19 and practiced law. In 1804 he married Nancy Hynes. During the Indian conflicts of 1812, he commanded a company of mounted Kentucky Volunteers. In 1813, he was elected as a Republican to the Thirteenth Congress, serving until 1815. After his term, he was appointed United States judge for the east Florida district in 1821. In 1822, President James Monroe appointed him as the first non-military Governor of the Florida Territory, serving until 1834. During his term, he was known for his peaceful dealings with the Native Americans. He accomplished the removal of the Seminole Indians to South Florida. After his term, he continued to practice law in Florida. From 1839 to 1842 he was a senator in the Florida legislature. In 1845 when Florida was becoming a new state in the Union, he served as a commissioner to settle the disputed northern boundary of Florida. He relocated to Texas in 1848 with many of his eight children and settled at Galveston to practice law. His sons played roles in the movement for Texas independence, becoming active in Texas politics. While in Washington D.C. on a business trip, he died at age 69. Duval County in northeast Florida with the main city being Jacksonville was named in his honor as well as a few streets throughout the state. A World War II battleship was named in his honor, the "SS William P. Duval."
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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