History of Saint Augustine, (Saint Johns County) Florida United States of America

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Stephen Vincent Ben?t, soldier, was born at St. Augustine, Fla., Jan. 22, 1827. After studying at the University of Georgia he was graduated at West Point, in 1849, with the rank of brevet 2d lieutenant. He served as assistant ordnance officer at Watervliet arsenal, N.Y., during the year 1849-'50, and for the three years following was on special duty in the ordnance bureau at Washington. In July, 1851, he was promoted 2d lieutenant. From 1854 to 1859 he was assistant ordnance officer at the St. Louis arsenal, Mo., and from 1859 to 1861 was principal assistant professor of geography, history and ethics at West Point. He served during the civil war, and from 1861 to 1864 was instructor of ordnance and the science of gunnery. Aug. 3, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of captain. He was brevetted, March 13, 1865, major and lieutenant-colonel for faithful and meritorious services in the ordnance department. He was retired by operation of law, Jan. 22, 1891. In 1855 the University of Georgia conferred upon him the degree of A.M. He is the author of a "Treatise on Military Laws, and the Practice of Courts-Martial" (1862); "Electro-Ballistic Machines and the Schultz Chronoscope" (1866; 2d ed., 1871), and a translation of Jomini's "Political, and Military History of the Campaign of Waterloo" (1853). He died Jan. 22, 1895.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Drayton, soldier, was born in St. Augustine, Fla., Dec. 30, 1776; son of William Drayton, chief justice of the province of East Florida. He was educated in England until fourteen years old when he returned to America and became assistant clerk of the court of general sessions of Charleston, S.C. He was admitted to the bar in 1797. He was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the 10th U.S. infantry in 1812 and in July of that year was promoted colonel of the 18th infantry, and on Aug. 1, 1814, inspector-general. He resigned from the army in 1815, was recorder of Charleston, 1819-24, and succeeded Joel R. Poinsett as representative in congress, serving through tim 19th, 20th, 21st and 22d congresses, 1825-33. He was opposed to the tariff and at the same time was hostile to nullification. He was offered by President Jackson the mission to England and on the resignation of General Eaton was asked to succeed him in the cabinet, both of which positions he declined. In 1833 he removed to Philadelphia, Pa., his course in congress on the question of nullification having estranged him from his former associates in South Carolina. He succeeded Nicholas Biddie as president of the United States bank and in that position pursued the unpopular course of placing the assets in the hands of assignees after vainly striving to revive its bankrupt condition. He died in Philadelplda, Pa., May 24, 1846.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Edmund Jackson Davis, governor of Texas, was born in St. Augustine, Fla., Nov. 21, 1830; son of William Goodwin and Mary Ann (Channer) Davis. He removed to Texas in 1848 where he practised law; was collector of customs, 1850-52; district attorney, 1853-54, and district judge, 1854-60. He joined the Union army as colonel, 1st Texas cavalry; was promoted brigadier-general, Nov. 10, 1864; and mustered out, Aug. 24, 1865. He was a member of the first and president of the second reconstruction conventions, and Republican governor of Texas, 1870-74. He died in Austin, Texas, Feb. 8, 1883.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Joseph Marion Hernandez, soldier, was born in St. Augustine, Fla. In 1822 on the organization of Florida as a territory of the United States, Hernandez became an American citizen and was elected the first delegate to the 17th congress, serving from Jan. 3 to March 3, 1823. He was then elected a territorial representative and was made speaker of the house. He was commissioned brigadier-general of the Florida militia and served in the U.S. army in the Seminole war, 1835-38, commanding the expedition that captured Osceola, the Indian chief, in 1837. He was promoted brigadier-general of mounted volunteers in July, 1837, and on September 10 took part in the battle near Mosquito Inlet. He died in Matanzas, Cuba, June 8, 1857.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Saint Augustine, (Saint Johns County) Florida

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