Source

State Archives of Florida, Collection N2013-6

Description

Buckner Harris, director of the Republic of East Florida, calls on the Legislative Council of the Republic of East Florida to appoint a minister plenipotentiary to visit Washington and offer both the cession of the Republic to the United States and the services of men as soldiers against enemies of the U.S.

Date

1814

Creator

Harris, Buckner, 1761-1814

Format

Letters (correspondence)

Topic

Politics And Government

Subjects

District of Elotchaway
Legislative Council of the Republic of East Florida
Legislative councils
Loyalty
Patriotism

Geographic Term

Florida

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.