J.J. Daniel
Encyclopedia
Jaquelin James Daniel known professionally as J. J. Daniel, was an American
lawyer, businessman, civic leader and newspaper publisher. Mostly forgotten in Jacksonville, Florida
, where he was born and lived for most of his adulthood, he was once once of its most powerful people.
family. His great-grandfather was an attorney and lumberman who came to Florida in 1846. His grandfather, for whom he was named, was a Colonel in the Civil War
and one of the most influential citizens of postbellum Jacksonville. He was also a principal in the prestigious Jacksonville law firm Fleming and Daniel. The Colonel reorganized the Chamber of Commerce and served as President of the Citizens' Auxiliary Association before dying in Jacksonville's Yellow fever
epidemic
of 1888. Daniel's father was a prominent lawyer and leader in the Urban League.
Daniel played football at Princeton University
, then received his law degree in 1942 from the University of Florida
. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II and took part in the Invasion of Normandy. After the war, he joined his father’s Jacksonville law firm.
, one of the largest mortgage banking and real estate firms in the Southeast. From 1976 until 1982, he helmed both the Florida Times-Union and Jacksonville Journal
as publisher. His grandfather, in 1888, became the first president of Florida Publishing Company, original owner of the Florida Times-Union. The company bought the Jacksonville Journal in 1959.
The Local Government Study Commission was created by the Florida legislature in 1966 to develop a plan to merge city and county services. In 1968, Daniel led the effort to establish the only consolidated government in the state of Florida and one of the few in the nation. In reviewing John Fischer
's Vital Signs, Time
noted that according to Fischer "[t]he hero of the consolidation of Jacksonville, Fla., where the voters in five municipalities chose to form one central government, is an enthusiastic oligarch named J.J. Daniel, who got his way simply because 'he knew almost everybody of consequence in the community.'"
J. J. Daniel was Chairman of the Florida Board of Regents
and was instrumental in getting the University of North Florida
established in Jacksonville. He was influential in the establishment of Episcopal High School of Jacksonville
, and served on many non-profit boards including the American Red Cross
, the District Welfare Board and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
.
Jaquelin James Daniel died in 1990 and was named a Great Floridian
by the Florida Department of State, an honor extended to individuals who made major contributions to the progress and welfare of the state of Florida. His Great Floridian plaque can be viewed at the Florida Times-Union Building in Jacksonville.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, businessman, civic leader and newspaper publisher. Mostly forgotten in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, where he was born and lived for most of his adulthood, he was once once of its most powerful people.
Family and early life
J. J. Daniel was born in 1916 into a powerful Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
family. His great-grandfather was an attorney and lumberman who came to Florida in 1846. His grandfather, for whom he was named, was a Colonel in the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and one of the most influential citizens of postbellum Jacksonville. He was also a principal in the prestigious Jacksonville law firm Fleming and Daniel. The Colonel reorganized the Chamber of Commerce and served as President of the Citizens' Auxiliary Association before dying in Jacksonville's Yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
of 1888. Daniel's father was a prominent lawyer and leader in the Urban League.
Daniel played football at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, then received his law degree in 1942 from the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II and took part in the Invasion of Normandy. After the war, he joined his father’s Jacksonville law firm.
Career
In 1960, he became the president of Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co.Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co.
Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co. was one of the largest mortgage banking, real estate and insurance firms in the Southeast. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, they were founded as Stockton, Whatley in the late 19th century...
, one of the largest mortgage banking and real estate firms in the Southeast. From 1976 until 1982, he helmed both the Florida Times-Union and Jacksonville Journal
Jacksonville Journal
Jacksonville Journal is a now-defunct afternoon newspaper in the Jacksonville, Florida area. It began publication as the Metropolis in 1887. Renamed The Florida Metropolis in the early 1900s, it was renamed the Jacksonville Journal in 1922 upon its purchase by John H. Perry. The Journal's new...
as publisher. His grandfather, in 1888, became the first president of Florida Publishing Company, original owner of the Florida Times-Union. The company bought the Jacksonville Journal in 1959.
Consolidation
Daniel's powerful personality, unquestioned integrity, strong leadership and history of civic involvement made him the obvious choice when it came time to choose a leader to design a new government and write its charter in the wake of widespread corruption and waste in local government during the 1960s.The Local Government Study Commission was created by the Florida legislature in 1966 to develop a plan to merge city and county services. In 1968, Daniel led the effort to establish the only consolidated government in the state of Florida and one of the few in the nation. In reviewing John Fischer
John Fischer
- Musicians :* John Fischer , Belgian/American jazz pianist, composer electronic painter and sculptor born in 1930* John Fischer , singer/songwriter who is one of the credited founders of Jesus music and Senior Writer with PurposeDrivenLife.com* John Fischer, co-founder of the hard rock band Full...
's Vital Signs, Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
noted that according to Fischer "[t]he hero of the consolidation of Jacksonville, Fla., where the voters in five municipalities chose to form one central government, is an enthusiastic oligarch named J.J. Daniel, who got his way simply because 'he knew almost everybody of consequence in the community.'"
Influence and later years
In 1977, while naming him among the 10 most powerful people in Florida, the St. Petersburg Times described him as "a pillar of the North Florida business and political establishment...probably Jacksonville's most respected citizen."J. J. Daniel was Chairman of the Florida Board of Regents
Florida Board of Regents
The Florida Board of Regents was from 1965 to 2001 the governing body for the State University System of Florida, which includes all public universities in the state of Florida, United States. It was created to replace a predecessor body called the Florida Board of Control, which had existed from...
and was instrumental in getting the University of North Florida
University of North Florida
The University of North Florida is a public university located in Jacksonville, Florida. A member institution of the State University System of Florida, the university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s...
established in Jacksonville. He was influential in the establishment of Episcopal High School of Jacksonville
Episcopal High School of Jacksonville
Episcopal School of Jacksonville is an independent, coeducational private college preparatory school in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. It was founded in 1966 by the Episcopal Diocese of Florida. The school has a middle school and a high school and enrolls about 900 students a...
, and served on many non-profit boards including the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, the District Welfare Board and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
.
Jaquelin James Daniel died in 1990 and was named a Great Floridian
Great Floridians
Great Floridian is a title bestowed upon citizens in the state of Florida by the Florida Department of State. There were actually two formal programs...
by the Florida Department of State, an honor extended to individuals who made major contributions to the progress and welfare of the state of Florida. His Great Floridian plaque can be viewed at the Florida Times-Union Building in Jacksonville.