Career William Dunn Moseley

portrait of william dunn moseley.

in 1817, moseley became tutor @ university. after studying law, admitted bar , began practice in wilmington. many lawyers of time, law not profession; moseley farmed , schoolteacher.

from 1829 1837, moseley represented lenoir county in north carolina senate, serving speaker 4 terms between 1832 , 1835. lost democratic nomination governor in north carolina 3 votes.

in 1835, moseley , family moved lake miccosukee in jefferson county, florida, after purchasing plantation there. in 1840, moseley elected territorial house of representatives. in 1844, won seat in territorial senate. on march 3, 1845, florida admitted twenty-seventh state of union.

later in 1845, in first statewide election, moseley won election governor of florida. beat well-known former governor richard keith call, becoming first governor of state of florida.

moseley sworn in on june 25, 1845. during term, established new state government. state capitol building completed during first year in office. moseley oversaw state s role in mexican-american war. southern states supported war troops saw opportunity gain territory slavery used.

moseley worked resolve conflicts between white settlers , seminole indians. encouraged agriculture, supporting new citrus, avocado, tobacco, , cotton industries. during administration, federal government built fort jefferson, on 1 of coral keys off southern florida coast, , fort clinch on amelia island, near modern-day fernandina beach, florida.

moseley strong supporter of states rights. favored establishment of state-funded public schools.

constitutionally limited single term, moseley returned plantation after ending term on october 1, 1849. 2 years later, settled in town of palatka in putnam county, operated citrus grove. moseley died on january 4, 1863, , buried @ west view cemetery in palatka.

after death, daughters commissioned portrait painted daguerreotype. presented portrait hung in state portrait gallery @ florida capitol.