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Richard Keith Call was the third and fifth territorial governor of Florida, from 1836 to 1839 and from 1841 to 1844. Born in Virginia in 1792, he first came to Florida in 1814 as the personal aide of General Andrew Jackson and returned with him to Pensacola in 1821 to help set up Florida's territorial government. The next year, he started a law practice there. Prior to his first term as territorial governor, Call served in various political capacities, including as Receiver of the West Florida Land Office, member of the Legislative Council of the territory, and Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.
During Call's first term as territorial governor of Florida, he was also Brigadier General of the West Florida Militia and led forces against the Seminoles in the Second and Third Battles of Wahoo Swamp during the Second Seminole War. In December 1839, President Martin Van Buren removed Call as governor following a dispute with Federal authorities over their assistance during the war. However, President William Henry Harrison appointed him territorial governor for a second term beginning in 1841. When Florida became a state in 1845, Call ran for governor, but was defeated.
Summary:
The collection contains three letters written to or relating to General Richard Keith Call. Included is a January 1820 letter from General Edmund P. Gaines to Edmund Doyle, an Indian trader on the Apalachicola River. Gaines asks Doyle to communicate to the chiefs of the Seminoles and the Red Stick Creeks the desire of the United States Government to negotiate a treaty. Also included is a December 1826 letter from Andrew Jackson to Call dealing primarily with Call's disagreement with Colonel Joseph White and the settlement of Call's father-in-law's will. Jackson notes his feelings toward Call.
The third letter is from Edward Everett to Call in December 1860. Everett, a noted Massachusetts orator, thanks the General for sending him copies of Call's recent pro-union, anti-secession pamphlet, "An Address to the People of Florida from General Richard Keith Call." Everett comments on the secession crisis and his belief that General Winfield Scott should be given temporary dictatorial powers to prevent civil war.
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Call, R.K. 1791-1862 (Richard Keith), Everett, Edward, 1794-1865 Gaines, Edmund Pendleton, 1777-1849 Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845
Indians of North America Wars 1815-1875 Military administration. Secession. Seminole Indians Wars
Florida Politics and government 1821-1865
Added Entries
Everett, Edward, 1794-1865
Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845
Gaines, Edmund Pendleton, 1777-1849
for detailed listing.