Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

Florida,

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 [299] 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 [300]

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 [301] 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 [302] 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 [303] 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, [304] 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 [305] 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 [306]

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