Source

State Archives of Florida, Collection N2013-6

Description

A private letter from United States Secretary of State James Monroe to General George Mathews regarding Mathews' exploits on Amelia Island in East Florida. Monroe sent the letter to Mathews on the same day he sent an official letter renouncing Mathews' forceful seizure of the island and surrounding area.

Date

1812-04-04

Creator

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Format

Letters (correspondence)

Topic

Politics And Government

Subjects

Mathews, George, 1739-1812
Spain -- Military relations -- United States
Territorial expansion
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1809-1817

Geographic Term

Washington (D.C.)
Florida
Amelia Island
Nassau County

General Note

In March 1812, a group of Georgia settlers known as the Patriot Army invaded Spanish East Florida with de facto support from the United States government. They had hoped to convince the Spanish colonists to join them and declare Florida's independence from Spain. The attempt ultimately failed, but during the Patriot Army's temporary control of Fernandina, the group's leaders drew up this constitution and formed a government for what they called the Republic of East Florida. Following General George Mathews' invasion of Fernandina in East Florida, the Madison administration (1809-1817) was forced to distance itself from Mathews' actions and revoke his military authority.