Republic of East Florida

Not to be confused with Republic of West Florida or Republic of the Floridas.

Republic of East Florida
1812–1812
Flag of Florida
Motto: Salus populi lex suprema (The good of the people is the highest law.)
StatusShort-lived independent state
CapitalAmelia Island, Florida
Common languagesEnglish, Spanish
GovernmentRepublic
"Governor or Director" 
• 1812
John Houstoun McIntosh
Chair of the Legislative Council of East Florida 
• 1812
Buckner F. Harris
LegislatureLegislative Council of East Florida
History 
• Rebel capture of Amelia Island, Florida
March 17 1812
• Declaration of independence from Spain
March 17, 1812
• Ratification of the Constitution of East Florida
July 17, 1812
• Disestablished
1812
CurrencyU.S. dollar
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
New Spain
United States military occupation
New Spain
Today part ofUnited States

The Republic of East Florida, also known as the Republic of Florida or the Territory of East Florida, was a putative republic declared by insurgents against the Spanish rule of East Florida, most of whom were from Georgia. John Houstoun McIntosh was chosen as "Director" of the self-named Patriots in March, 1812, to receive formal Spanish capitulation at Amelia Island.[1] In July, while under the occupation of U.S. forces, the Patriots created a constitution of government that provided for an executive office, a legislative council, and a court system. Under its provisions, on July 27 McIntosh was named "Director of the Territory of East Florida".[2] He was later succeeded in that office by Gen. Buckner Harris.[3] Patriots wished neither independence nor statehood in the United States; they desired annexation by the U.S., connoted by the word "Territory" in their name of the country, and as expressly declared by the delegates at their constitutional convention.[2]

John Houstoun McIntosh marker in McIntosh County, Georgia, USA commemorating McIntosh's role as the first American "Governor or Director" of the Republic of Florida
  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Williams1837 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Rembert W. Patrick (May 1, 2010). Florida Fiasco: Rampant Rebels on the Georgia-Florida Border, 1810-1815. University of Georgia Press. pp. 84, 165–166, 279, 282. ISBN 978-0-8203-3549-0.
  3. ^ James G. Cusick (April 1, 2007). The Other War of 1812: The Patriot War and the American Invasion of Spanish East Florida. University of Georgia Press. pp. 103, 261, 288–291. ISBN 978-0-8203-2921-5.