William King (died January 1826) was an American army officer who was
military governor of
West Florida from May 26, 1818 to February 4, 1819. He was appointed to the position by
Andrew Jackson, who led the American occupation of
Spanish West Florida during the
First Seminole War.
Biography
William King was born in
Delaware in the late 18th century. He was commissioned as a
second lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank.
Australia
The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...
of the
United States Army in May 1808, and served in the
War of 1812.
King was promoted to
colonel in 1813, and led the
4th Infantry Regiment under
Andrew Jackson during the
First Seminole War. He was with Jackson during his controversial 1818 invasion of the Spanish colony of
West Florida and the occupation of
Pensacola. Following Governor
José Masot
José Masot ( es, José Masot), also known as José Fascot, was a senior Officer (armed forces), officer of the Spanish Navy who served as governor of West Florida, subdelegate of the Intendant (government official), intendant, and superintendent ...
's surrender on May 23, Jackson appointed King military governor of West Florida on May 26. Jackson interpreted Masot's terms of surrender as giving the United States control over the entirety of West Florida.
[Heidler & Heidler, pp. 173–174.][Ott, pp. 29–28.]
As military governor, King was charged with upholding
Spanish law
The Law of Spain is the legislation in force in the Kingdom of Spain, which is understood to mean Spanish territory, Spanish waters, consulates and embassies, and ships flying the Spanish flag in democratically elected institutions.
Characteristi ...
in the colony, overseeing Spanish property, and caring for soldiers wounded in Jackson's campaign. After Jackson's departure from Florida on May 29, he also oversaw the dispersal of the Tennessee and Kentucky militia.
[ However, Jackson's invasion of Florida threatened to derail the ]Adams–Onís Treaty
The Adams–Onís Treaty () of 1819, also known as the Transcontinental Treaty, the Florida Purchase Treaty, or the Florida Treaty,Weeks, p.168. was a treaty between the United States and Spain in 1819 that ceded Florida to the U.S. and defined t ...
, by which the United States hoped to acquire Spanish Florida, and the James Monroe administration wanted West Florida restored to Spanish control. King served in his post until he was relieved by Edmund P. Gaines on orders from U.S. Secretary of War
The secretary of war was a member of the U.S. president's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War", had been appointed to serve the Congress of the ...
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun (; March 18, 1782March 31, 1850) was an American statesman and political theorist from South Carolina who held many important positions including being the seventh vice president of the United States from 1825 to 1832. He ...
. He was succeeded by José María Callava
José María Callava was the final governor of Spanish West Florida, serving from February 1819 to the time of Spain's transfer of the territory to the United States on 17 July 1821. Callava was an officer in the Spanish military who had been rapi ...
, West Florida's final Spanish governor.
King was discharged from the Army in June 1821, and died in January 1826.Historical Register & Dictionary of the US Army
/ref>
Fort King, constructed in 1827, was named in honor of King.[
]
References
Sources
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:King, William
United States Army personnel of the War of 1812
Governors of West Florida
1826 deaths
Year of birth missing
18th-century births
United States Army officers