Richard K. Call
Encyclopedia
Richard Keith Call was the third and fifth territorial
governor of Florida
.
Named after his uncle, a Revolutionary War
hero, he was born in Pittsfield, Prince George County, Virginia
. In 1813 he left school to take part in the Creek War
. He came favorably to the attention of General Andrew Jackson
, and came to Florida
in 1814 as his personal aide. He returned with General Jackson
in 1821 to establish the territorial
government after the United States
acquired Florida
from Spain
in the Adams-Onís Treaty
. In 1822, he decided to make Florida
his home and opened a legal practice. In 1824 he married Mary Letitia Kirkman of Nashville at General Jackson's home, the Hermitage .
He was on the Legislative Council of the territory and served as a Delegate
to the U.S. Congress. On March 16, 1836, he was appointed by President Andrew Jackson
as the governor of the territory. During this first term, he led the Florida
militia
in fighting the Seminole Indians, winning victories at the second and third Battles of Wahoo Swamp
. He was replaced as governor by President Martin Van Buren
on December 2, 1839 following a dispute with Federal authorities over their assistance in the war. He crossed party lines to assist the presidential campaign of William Henry Harrison
, who
appointed him again as Governor. During this second term as governor, which began on March 19, 1841, he moved the territory closer to statehood and tried to minimize the financial problems that Florida
experienced due to bank failures and a national business depression. He left office on August 11, 1844. In 1845 Florida became a State, and he again sought election as governor, but his role in the election of President Harrison adversely affected his campaign.
During the 1830s, he constructed two plantations
on land that he purchased in Leon County
. Orchard Pond Plantation
was located north of Tallahassee and The Grove Plantation
was located on Tallahassee's northern outskirts. Today it is on the National Register of Historic Places. The estate later became the home of Governor LeRoy Collins
, and his wife Mary Call Collins, the great granddaughter of Richard Call. Richard Keith Call died at The Grove on September 14, 1862.
Call was the uncle of US Senator Wilkinson Call
.
, Starke
, Jacksonville, Hollywood
, and High Springs
.
In 1944, a United States
Liberty ship
named the SS Richard K. Call
was launched.
Florida Territory
The Territory of Florida was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 30, 1822, until March 3, 1845, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Florida...
governor of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Named after his uncle, a Revolutionary War
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
hero, he was born in Pittsfield, Prince George County, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. In 1813 he left school to take part in the Creek War
Creek War
The Creek War , also known as the Red Stick War and the Creek Civil War, began as a civil war within the Creek nation...
. He came favorably to the attention of General Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
, and came to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1814 as his personal aide. He returned with General Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
in 1821 to establish the territorial
Florida Territory
The Territory of Florida was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 30, 1822, until March 3, 1845, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Florida...
government after the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
acquired Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in the Adams-Onís Treaty
Adams-Onís Treaty
The Adams–Onís Treaty of 1819, also known as the Transcontinental Treaty or the Purchase of Florida, was a treaty between the United States and Spain in 1819 that gave Florida to the U.S. and set out a boundary between the U.S. and New Spain . It settled a standing border dispute between the two...
. In 1822, he decided to make Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
his home and opened a legal practice. In 1824 he married Mary Letitia Kirkman of Nashville at General Jackson's home, the Hermitage .
He was on the Legislative Council of the territory and served as a Delegate
Delegate (United States Congress)
A delegate to Congress is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives who is elected from a U.S. territory and from Washington, D.C. to a two-year term. While unable to vote in the full House, a non-voting delegate may vote in a House committee of which the delegate is a member...
to the U.S. Congress. On March 16, 1836, he was appointed by President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
as the governor of the territory. During this first term, he led the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
in fighting the Seminole Indians, winning victories at the second and third Battles of Wahoo Swamp
Battle of Wahoo Swamp
The Battle of Wahoo Swamp was fought during the Second Seminole War. An army of militia, Tennessee volunteers, Creek mercenaries and United States marines and soldiers led by Florida Governor, General Richard K...
. He was replaced as governor by President Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
on December 2, 1839 following a dispute with Federal authorities over their assistance in the war. He crossed party lines to assist the presidential campaign of William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
, who
appointed him again as Governor. During this second term as governor, which began on March 19, 1841, he moved the territory closer to statehood and tried to minimize the financial problems that Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
experienced due to bank failures and a national business depression. He left office on August 11, 1844. In 1845 Florida became a State, and he again sought election as governor, but his role in the election of President Harrison adversely affected his campaign.
During the 1830s, he constructed two plantations
Plantations in the American South
Plantations were an important aspect of the history of the American South, particularly the antebellum .-Planter :The owner of a plantation was called a planter...
on land that he purchased in Leon County
Leon County, Florida
Leon County is a county located in the state of Florida, named after the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. At the 2010 Census, the population was 275,487. The county seat of Leon County is Tallahassee which also serves as the state capital. The county seat is home to two of Florida's major...
. Orchard Pond Plantation
Orchard Pond Plantation
Orchard Pond Plantation was a large cotton plantation originally of 8754 acres located in northwestern Leon County, Florida, USA established by Richard Keith Call.-Location:...
was located north of Tallahassee and The Grove Plantation
The Grove Plantation
The Grove was a modest cotton plantation located in central Leon County, Florida and established by Richard Keith Call in the 1830s. Call was also owner of Orchard Pond Plantation....
was located on Tallahassee's northern outskirts. Today it is on the National Register of Historic Places. The estate later became the home of Governor LeRoy Collins
LeRoy Collins
Thomas LeRoy Collins was the 33rd Governor of Florida.-Early life:Collins was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, where he attended Leon High School. He went on to attend the Eastman Business College in New York and then went on to the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama to...
, and his wife Mary Call Collins, the great granddaughter of Richard Call. Richard Keith Call died at The Grove on September 14, 1862.
Call was the uncle of US Senator Wilkinson Call
Wilkinson Call
Wilkinson Call was a U.S. Senator from Florida who served as a Democrat from 1879 to 1897.Call was a nephew of Florida Governor Richard K. Call and cousin of Arkansas Senator James D...
.
Legacy
There are several streets in Florida named after Richard K. Call. Call Streets are in TallahasseeTallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
, Starke
Starke, Florida
Starke is a city in Bradford County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,593 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,769 ....
, Jacksonville, Hollywood
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
, and High Springs
High Springs, Florida
High Springs is a city in Alachua County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,863 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,139 .-Geography:High Springs is located at ....
.
In 1944, a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Liberty ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
named the SS Richard K. Call
SS Richard K. Call
SS Richard K. Call was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Richard Keith Call, territorial governor of Florida....
was launched.
External links
- Biographical Directory of the US Congress
- Official Governor's portrait and biography from the State of Florida
- Call Family and Brevard Family Papers This collection contains correspondence, writings, and other papers of Richard Keith Call and his family from 1788-1916. From the State Library and Archives of Florida.