William Dunn Moseley
Encyclopedia
William Dunn Moseley was an American politician
. A Democrat and North Carolina
native, Moseley became the first Governor of the state
of Florida
, serving from 1845 until 1849 and leading the establishment of the state government.
. The son of Matthew and Elizabeth Herring Dunn Moseley and a descendant of colonial official Edward Moseley
, he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
in 1818. He received his master's degree
from UNC in 1821. While at the university, Moseley was the roommate of future president James K. Polk
.
In 1817, Moseley became a tutor at the university. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar and began practice in Wilmington
. Like many lawyers of the time, law was not his only profession; Moseley also farmed and was a schoolteacher.
From 1829 to 1837, Moseley represented Lenoir County in the North Carolina Senate
, serving as speaker
for four terms between 1832 and 1835. He lost the Democratic nomination for governor in North Carolina
by three votes.
In 1835, Moseley and his family moved to Lake Miccosukee
in Jefferson County
, Florida
, after purchasing a plantation there. In 1840, Moseley was elected to the territorial
House of Representatives. In 1844, he won a seat in the territorial
Senate. On March 3, 1845, Florida was admitted as the twenty-seventh state of the Union
.
Later in 1845, in the first statewide election, Moseley won the election for governor of Florida. He beat the well-known former governor Richard Keith Call, becoming the first governor of the state of Florida
.
Moseley was sworn in on June 25, 1845. During his term, he established the new state government. The state Capitol building was completed during his first year in office. Moseley oversaw the state's role in the Mexican-American War. Southern states supported the war with troops as they saw it as an opportunity to gain territory where slavery could be used.
Moseley worked to resolve conflicts between white settlers and Seminole Indians. He also encouraged agriculture, supporting new citrus
, avocado
, tobacco
, and cotton
industries. During his administration, the federal government
built Fort Jefferson, on one of the coral keys off the southern Florida coast, and Fort Clinch
on Amelia Island
, near modern-day Fernandina Beach, Florida
.
Moseley was a strong supporter of states' rights
. He favored the establishment of state-funded public schools.
Constitutionally limited to a single term, Moseley returned to his plantation after ending his term on October 1, 1849. Two years later, he settled in the town of Palatka
in Putnam County
, where he operated a citrus grove. Moseley died on January 4, 1863, and was buried at the West View Cemetery in Palatka.
After his death, his daughters commissioned a portrait to be painted from a daguerreotype
. They presented the portrait to be hung in a state portrait gallery at the Florida capitol.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
. A Democrat and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
native, Moseley became the first Governor of the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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...
, serving from 1845 until 1849 and leading the establishment of the state government.
Early life and education
He was born at Moseley Hall in Lenoir County, North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The son of Matthew and Elizabeth Herring Dunn Moseley and a descendant of colonial official Edward Moseley
Edward Moseley
Edward Moseley , was the Surveyor General of North Carolina from about 1710 and the first colonial Treasurer of North Carolina starting in 1715. He was responsible for surveying the boundary between North Carolina and Virginia in 1728...
, he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in 1818. He received his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from UNC in 1821. While at the university, Moseley was the roommate of future president James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
.
Career
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
. Like many lawyers of the time, law was not his only profession; Moseley also farmed and was a schoolteacher.
From 1829 to 1837, Moseley represented Lenoir County in the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
, serving as speaker
President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate
The President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate is the highest-ranking officer of one house of the North Carolina General Assembly. The President of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, but the President Pro-Tem actually holds most of the power and presides in the...
for four terms between 1832 and 1835. He lost the Democratic nomination for governor in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
by three votes.
In 1835, Moseley and his family moved to Lake Miccosukee
Lake Miccosukee
Lake Miccosukee is a large swampy prairie lake in northern Jefferson County, Florida, USA, located east of the settlement of Miccosukee. A small portion of the lake, its northwest corner, is located in Leon County.-Characteristics:...
in Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Florida
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population is 12,902. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 14,490 . Its county seat is Monticello, Florida....
, 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...
, after purchasing a plantation there. In 1840, Moseley was elected to 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...
House of Representatives. In 1844, he won a seat in 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...
Senate. On March 3, 1845, Florida was admitted as the twenty-seventh state of the Union
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Later in 1845, in the first statewide election, Moseley won the election for governor of Florida. He beat the well-known former governor Richard Keith Call, becoming the first governor of the state 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...
.
Moseley was sworn in on June 25, 1845. During his term, he established the new state government. The state Capitol building was completed during his first year in office. Moseley oversaw the state's role in the Mexican-American War. Southern states supported the war with troops as they saw it as an opportunity to gain territory where slavery could be used.
Moseley worked to resolve conflicts between white settlers and Seminole Indians. He also encouraged agriculture, supporting new citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
, avocado
Avocado
The avocado is a tree native to Central Mexico, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel...
, tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
, and cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
industries. During his administration, the federal government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
built Fort Jefferson, on one of the coral keys off the southern Florida coast, and Fort Clinch
Fort Clinch
Fort Clinch is a 19th century brick fortress located on a peninsula near the northernmost point of Amelia Island, along the Amelia River. The fort lies to the northeast of Fernandina Beach at the entrance to the Cumberland Sound and lies within Fort Clinch State Park.-History:The site of Fort...
on Amelia Island
Amelia Island
Amelia Island is one of the southernmost of the Sea Islands, a chain of barrier islands that stretches along the east coast of the United States from South Carolina to Florida. It is long and approximately 4 miles wide at its widest point. Amelia Island is situated off the coast in Nassau County,...
, near modern-day Fernandina Beach, Florida
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Fernandina Beach is a city in Nassau County in the state of Florida in the United States of America and on Amelia Island. It is a part of Greater Jacksonville and is among Florida's northernmost cities. The area was first inhabited by the Timucuan Indian tribe...
.
Moseley was a strong supporter of states' rights
States' rights
States' rights in U.S. politics refers to political powers reserved for the U.S. state governments rather than the federal government. It is often considered a loaded term because of its use in opposition to federally mandated racial desegregation...
. He favored the establishment of state-funded public schools.
Constitutionally limited to a single term, Moseley returned to his plantation after ending his term on October 1, 1849. Two years later, he settled in the town of Palatka
Palatka, Florida
Palatka is a city in Putnam County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,033 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,796. It is the county seat of Putnam County and includes East Palatka. Palatka is the principal city of the Palatka...
in Putnam County
Putnam County, Florida
Putnam County is a county located in the state of Florida. The entire county makes up the Palatka Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 70,423. The U.S. Census Bureau 2009 estimate for the county was 72,893 . Its county seat is Palatka, Florida. The county is centrally...
, where he operated a citrus grove. Moseley died on January 4, 1863, and was buried at the West View Cemetery in Palatka.
After his death, his daughters commissioned a portrait to be painted from a daguerreotype
Daguerreotype
The daguerreotype was the first commercially successful photographic process. The image is a direct positive made in the camera on a silvered copper plate....
. They presented the portrait to be hung in a state portrait gallery at the Florida capitol.