Richard Call

Richard Call was an American attorney and politician who served as a U.S. Representative for Florida's at-large district from 1823 to 1825. He was also a prominent figure in Florida's early governance, holding the positions of the 3rd and 5th territorial governor of Florida. Call's political career was marked by his close association with notable figures such as General Andrew Jackson and his involvement in the development of Florida's territorial government. Additionally, he was a plantation owner and a significant slaveholder in Leon County, Florida.

Early life and career

Richard Call was born on October 24, 1792, in Pittsfield, Prince George County, Virginia, to William and Helen Meade Walker Call. He was part of a family with a notable lineage, being the nephew of a Revolutionary War hero also named Richard Call. His early life was marked by tragedy, as his father and two brothers passed away when he was young. Following this, his widowed mother moved the family, which included four surviving children and five enslaved individuals, across the Appalachian Mountains to Kentucky around the year 1800. They settled on land owned by her brother, Senator David Walker, in Russellville, Kentucky, where Call spent much of his childhood.

After the death of his mother in 1810, Call moved to Tennessee to live with another uncle and pursue a formal education. However, his academic journey was interrupted in 1813 when he enlisted to fight in the Creek War, which was part of the broader conflict of the War of 1812 against Great Britain. During this time, he gained the attention of General Andrew Jackson, who would become a significant influence in Call's political career.

Call was commissioned as a first lieutenant in 1814 and served as an aide to Jackson in Spanish Florida. His military service included witnessing the signing of the 1818 Treaty of Tuscaloosa with the Chickasaw. After the United States acquired Florida from Spain through the Adams-Onís Treaty in 1821, Call returned with Jackson to help establish the territorial government. Following his resignation from the Army in 1822, he settled in Tallahassee, Florida, where he opened a legal practice.

House tenure

Richard Call's political career in the U.S. House of Representatives began when he was elected as a delegate from Florida in 1823. His term in the House lasted until March 3, 1825. During this period, Call was involved in the early legislative processes that shaped Florida's governance as it transitioned from a territory to a state. His tenure was characterized by the challenges of representing a newly acquired territory and addressing the needs of its constituents.

After serving in Congress, Call continued to play a significant role in Florida's political landscape. He was appointed as the territorial governor of Florida by President Andrew Jackson in 1836, a position he held during a tumultuous time marked by conflicts with the Seminole Indians. His military background and leadership were instrumental in the Second Seminole War, particularly during the Battle of Wahoo Swamp.

Call's political affiliations evolved over time. He was initially aligned with the Democratic Party but later crossed party lines to support the Whig candidate William Henry Harrison during the 1840 presidential campaign. Harrison's victory led to Call's reappointment as governor, during which he worked to address Florida's financial difficulties and move the territory closer to statehood. He left office in 1844, shortly before Florida achieved statehood in 1845.

Legislative focus and committees

During his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, Richard Call's legislative focus was likely influenced by his background as a lawyer and his experiences in territorial governance. Although specific details regarding the committees he served on or the legislation he supported are not documented, it can be inferred that his legal expertise and political connections would have guided his contributions to discussions on land, governance, and the rights of territories.

Call's involvement in the political arena extended beyond his congressional term. He was an active participant in the political discourse of his time, including attending the 1856 Know Nothing convention in Philadelphia, where he expressed his discontent over the division between Northern and Southern interests regarding slavery. This event highlighted the growing tensions in the United States leading up to the Civil War.

In addition to his political roles, Call was a significant landowner and plantation developer in Florida. He owned two plantations in Leon County, one of which was notably large, encompassing nearly 9,000 acres. His agricultural pursuits were intertwined with the institution of slavery, as he was one of the largest slaveholders in the county by 1860. This aspect of his life reflects the complexities of Southern society during that period.

Call's legacy is marked by his contributions to Florida's early governance and his role in shaping the state's political landscape. He passed away on September 14, 1862, at The Grove Plantation, which he had developed. His contributions to Florida's history are recognized through various memorials, including streets named in his honor and the naming of a World War II Liberty ship after him. The Call-Collins Mansion at The Grove is now a historic site, reflecting Call's lasting impact on the region.