U.S. Senator. Moving to the United States with family at age nine, he attended a private school in Norfolk, Virginia. Relocating to Florida, he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1832 and proceeded to practice law in St. Augustine, Florida. During the 2nd Seminole War, he served in the territorial militia and was present at a conference with Seminole chiefs, in 1834. He was elected to the Florida Territory's Legislative Council, serving (1836-39), was a delegate to the territory's constitutional convention in 1838 and served as the legislature's clerk, in 1841. He also was elected as a Whig-Democrat, a Territorial delegate to the Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Congresses, serving (1841-45). Upon the admission of Florida as a State into the Union, he was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate, serving (1845-51) and was again elected to the U.S. Senate, serving (1855-61). Due to his support of the Confederacy during the Civil War, he was a prisoner at Fort Pulaski, Georgia, in 1865. After receiving a pardon, he returned to Florida and rebuilt the Yulee Railroad, which had been destroyed during the war. He also served as president of the Florida Railroad Company, Peninsular Railroad Company, Tropical Florida Railway Company, Fernandina and Jacksonville Railroad Company. For his development of the railroads in Florida and his economic contributions to the state, he was known as the "Father of Florida's Railroads". After resigning from his railroad interests, he lived in retirement until his death.
U.S. Senator. Moving to the United States with family at age nine, he attended a private school in Norfolk, Virginia. Relocating to Florida, he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1832 and proceeded to practice law in St. Augustine, Florida. During the 2nd Seminole War, he served in the territorial militia and was present at a conference with Seminole chiefs, in 1834. He was elected to the Florida Territory's Legislative Council, serving (1836-39), was a delegate to the territory's constitutional convention in 1838 and served as the legislature's clerk, in 1841. He also was elected as a Whig-Democrat, a Territorial delegate to the Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Congresses, serving (1841-45). Upon the admission of Florida as a State into the Union, he was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate, serving (1845-51) and was again elected to the U.S. Senate, serving (1855-61). Due to his support of the Confederacy during the Civil War, he was a prisoner at Fort Pulaski, Georgia, in 1865. After receiving a pardon, he returned to Florida and rebuilt the Yulee Railroad, which had been destroyed during the war. He also served as president of the Florida Railroad Company, Peninsular Railroad Company, Tropical Florida Railway Company, Fernandina and Jacksonville Railroad Company. For his development of the railroads in Florida and his economic contributions to the state, he was known as the "Father of Florida's Railroads". After resigning from his railroad interests, he lived in retirement until his death.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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