Joseph Marion Hernández, Florida’s First Delegate to Congress
Joseph Marion Hernández (1793–1857) was born in St. Augustine on August 4, 1793. Following the establishment of the U.S. territory of Florida, Hernández was elected to represent Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives from September 30, 1822, until March 3, 1823, becoming the first Hispanic-American in Congress. He then served in the Territorial House of Representatives in Florida. He fought for the U.S. Army as brigadier general of volunteers in the campaign against the Seminole Indians beginning in 1835. In 1837, he led the group that captured Seminole Chief Osceola. In 1845 after Florida became a state, Hernández ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate as a Whig.
Joseph Marion Hernández (1793–1857) was born in St. Augustine on August 4, 1793. Following the establishment of the U.S. territory of Florida, Hernández was elected to represent Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives from September 30, 1822, until March 3, 1823, becoming the first Hispanic-American in Congress. He then served in the Territorial House of Representatives in Florida. He fought for the U.S. Army as brigadier general of volunteers in the campaign against the Seminole Indians beginning in 1835. In 1837, he led the group that captured Seminole Chief Osceola. In 1845 after Florida became a state, Hernández ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate as a Whig.