TIMELINE

Close[X] United States of America

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1500's

(1513) Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon landed near (present day) St. Augustine, named it La Florida, and claimed it for Spain
(1539) Hernando de Soto explored central and northern Florida
(1565) Spanish established St. Augustine, first permanent European settlement
(1586) British seafarer, Sir Francis Drake, conquered and burned St. Augustine

1700's

1800's

(1803) United States claimed West Florida and Pensacola as part of Louisiana Purchase
(1813) Andrew Jackson captured Pensacola
(1816) Cannon ball exploded in abandoned British fort, killed almost 300 freed and runaway slaves
(1818) General Jackson fought Seminole Indians
(1821) General Jackson established new U. S. territorial government
(1822) Unified government of Florida established; William Duval first Territorial Governor
(1830-1840) Population boomed, settlers arrived
(1834-1837) First railroads began operation; second Seminole War occurred, Major Francis Dade and two U S Army troops ambushed and massacred
(1837) General Zachary Taylor commanded forces against Seminoles at Lake Okeechobee
(1842) Second Seminole War ended with many Indians dead, the rest forced out of Florida
(1845) Florida became 27th state
(1851) Dr. John Gorrie patented ice making process
(1855-1858) Third Seminole War occurred
(1861-1865) Civil War began; Florida seceded from Union, joined Confederacy
(1868) Florida readmitted to Union
(1878) Tourism began at Silver Spring, Hullam Jones invented glass-bottom boat
(1881) Phosphate discovered in Peace River Valley
(1888) Yellow fever epidemic struck, 40% of Jacksonville population fled, over 400 died
(1894-1899) Frosts killed many citrus trees
(1898) Embarkation camps created at Tampa, Miami and Jacksonville due to Spanish-American War

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