BIO

Originally from Fort Myers, Tatyana is a second year International Affairs and Political Science student with a concentration in History. She will be graduating in December and hopes to attend law school starting in Fall 2024 focusing on International and Immigration Law.

Dueling in Territorial Tallahassee: Leigh Read v. Augustus Alston

Abstract

Dueling in Territorial Tallahassee changed the politics of the newly founded capital and posed an issue for the leaders who would come to take charge of the area. Despite Tallahassee being Florida’s first capital, much of its history has been hidden from the public and manipulated by historians and writers of the time to display a specific narrative, one that embellishes specific historic figures rather than others. The researcher explored the many duels of the capital city, those from 1826-1840, and attempted to discover more about why they were so important for the future of the state. In doing this research, the primary goal is to detail exactly what happened during the Leigh Read v. Augustus Alston duel and explore the extensive documentation and dramatic details that makes this event particularly interesting. This study examines letters, newspapers, court documents, and includes conversations with Dr. James M. Denham on his prior studies to construct an accurate picture of dueling in Territorial Tallahassee. Through this examination, the researcher discovered that Alston manipulated the duel in many ways to win, yet was so overconfident that he caused his own demise. Also, after the turmoil resulting from the incident, the town and its lawmakers were so aghast that duels in the town ceased to exist. Via reenactment at Tallahassee’s Bicentennial and presentation, the researcher hopes to inform the public about dueling in Territorial Tallahassee and its importance.

Keywords: History, Dueling, Tallahassee, Theater, Social Science