William King was with Andrew Jackson during his controversial invasion of the Spanish colony of West Florida and occupation of Pensacola. Jackson interpreted the surrender of the Spanish governor there as giving the United States control over all of West Florida.
Jackson then appointed King as the military governor and charged him with enforcing Spanish laws and protecting Spanish people and property. In addition, King oversaw the dispersal of Tennessee and Kentucky militia.
However, Jackson's invasion of West Florida was a serious threat to U.S. negotiations with Spain to get all of Florida and President James Monroe wanted West Florida restored to Spanish control as soon as possible. King served at his post until relieved by Edmund P. Gaines.
William Gaines was discharged from the Army in June 1821 and died in January 1826.
Fort King in Florida was named for him.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
Showing posts with label Fort King Fla.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fort King Fla.. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
West Florida's Col. William King-- Part 1: Fort King Named for Him
I have been writing about Florida's Fort King in the last two posts. It was named for William King.
From Wikipedia.
Born in Delaware in the late 18th century. Died in January 1826.
U.S. Army officer and military governor of West Florida from May 26, 1818, to Feb. 4, 1819. He was appointed by Andrew Jackson who led the U.S. occupation of Spanish West Florida during the First Seminole War.
King was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1808 and served in the War of 1812. In 1813, he was promoted to colonel and led the 4th U.S. Infantry regiment. After the war, he served with Jackson in the First Seminole War and was with him during Jackson's controversial 1818 invasion of the Spanish colony of West Florida.
--Brock-Perry
From Wikipedia.
Born in Delaware in the late 18th century. Died in January 1826.
U.S. Army officer and military governor of West Florida from May 26, 1818, to Feb. 4, 1819. He was appointed by Andrew Jackson who led the U.S. occupation of Spanish West Florida during the First Seminole War.
King was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1808 and served in the War of 1812. In 1813, he was promoted to colonel and led the 4th U.S. Infantry regiment. After the war, he served with Jackson in the First Seminole War and was with him during Jackson's controversial 1818 invasion of the Spanish colony of West Florida.
--Brock-Perry
Fort King, Florida-- Part 2: Thompson, Dade and Osceola
I am writing about the Seminole Indians in Florida and the U.S. Army in this blog even though it took place after the War of 1812 because it is directly related to the war. All the main Americans participated in the war, though I have been unable to find out much about their service. But, the Indians were definitely one aspect of the war.
From Exploring Southern History.
To say that Wiley Thompson and the Seminoles, and especially warrior Osceola, didn't like each other would be an understatement. At one point, Thompson had Osceola clapped in irons and held for a period of time. Osceola decided to have his revenge.
On December 28, 1835, as Francis L. Dade was leading his troops to Thompson's relief, as Wiley Thompson and associates went for a walk, Osceola and his warriors ambushed him and Thompson was shot 14 times and scalped along with six others.
That same day, a larger force of Seminoles attacked Dade and killed him and over 100 others.
This caused the second Seminole War to take place.
--Brock-Perry
From Exploring Southern History.
To say that Wiley Thompson and the Seminoles, and especially warrior Osceola, didn't like each other would be an understatement. At one point, Thompson had Osceola clapped in irons and held for a period of time. Osceola decided to have his revenge.
On December 28, 1835, as Francis L. Dade was leading his troops to Thompson's relief, as Wiley Thompson and associates went for a walk, Osceola and his warriors ambushed him and Thompson was shot 14 times and scalped along with six others.
That same day, a larger force of Seminoles attacked Dade and killed him and over 100 others.
This caused the second Seminole War to take place.
--Brock-Perry
Monday, August 31, 2015
Fort King, Florida-- Part 1: To Control the Seminoles
The subject of Saturday's post was Gen. Wiley Thompson who was killed by Seminole leader Osceola at Fort King, Florida.
From Wikipedia.
Fort King, also called Camp king or Cantonment King, is located in north central Florida near the present-day city of Ocala. It was named for Colonel William King, commander of Florida's 4th Infantry, the first governor of Provisional West Florida.
The fort was built in 1827 as tensions between settlers and the Seminoles in Florida intensified and it became an important base for the Army's removal of the Seminoles in the 1830s. In 1844, it served as the courthouse for the newly formed Marion County.
When the Army left, it was taken apart by locals for use as building materials.
The site is now a National Historic Landmark and is located by the corner of East Fort King Street and 39th Avenue inOcala. No visible signs of the fort remain.
--Brock-Perry
From Wikipedia.
Fort King, also called Camp king or Cantonment King, is located in north central Florida near the present-day city of Ocala. It was named for Colonel William King, commander of Florida's 4th Infantry, the first governor of Provisional West Florida.
The fort was built in 1827 as tensions between settlers and the Seminoles in Florida intensified and it became an important base for the Army's removal of the Seminoles in the 1830s. In 1844, it served as the courthouse for the newly formed Marion County.
When the Army left, it was taken apart by locals for use as building materials.
The site is now a National Historic Landmark and is located by the corner of East Fort King Street and 39th Avenue inOcala. No visible signs of the fort remain.
--Brock-Perry
Saturday, August 29, 2015
General Wiley Thompson: Seminole Indian Agent Killed By Osceola
From Wikipedia.
In yesterday's post, I mentioned that Francis Dade and his men were ambushed and massacred by Seminoles while on his way to help Gen. Wiley Thompson at Fort King near present-day Ocala.
September 1781 to December 28, 1835. He died the same day as Dade and his men, all killed by the Seminoles. Thompson was a U.S. Representative from Elberton, Georgia who served as a major general in the Georgia militia from 1817 to 1824. I could not find out any reference to his War of 1812 service, but imagine he did have some sort of involvement in it.
He served in the U.S. Congress from 1821-1832.
Appointed Indian agent to the Seminoles and in 1834, directed their removal from Florida. This angered Seminole warrior Osceola who killed him at Fort King, Florida on December 28, 1835. Thompson is buried at his estate in Elberton, Georgia.
--Brock-Perry
In yesterday's post, I mentioned that Francis Dade and his men were ambushed and massacred by Seminoles while on his way to help Gen. Wiley Thompson at Fort King near present-day Ocala.
September 1781 to December 28, 1835. He died the same day as Dade and his men, all killed by the Seminoles. Thompson was a U.S. Representative from Elberton, Georgia who served as a major general in the Georgia militia from 1817 to 1824. I could not find out any reference to his War of 1812 service, but imagine he did have some sort of involvement in it.
He served in the U.S. Congress from 1821-1832.
Appointed Indian agent to the Seminoles and in 1834, directed their removal from Florida. This angered Seminole warrior Osceola who killed him at Fort King, Florida on December 28, 1835. Thompson is buried at his estate in Elberton, Georgia.
--Brock-Perry
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