Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Nicholas Warren-Elmore and I am a first year Economics major from Fort Lauderdale. I am interested in pursuing more research in both the History and Economics fields. I am a part of the Pre-Law track and plan to attend law school after graduating from FSU.

William Pope Duval: The Absent Governor

Abstract

This research project explores the governance of William Pope Duval, the longest serving governor of the Florida Territory in the early 19th century. Duval, appointed by President James Monroe in 1822, faced many challenges during his tenure (1822-1834) including conflicts with the Seminole tribe, disputes over Spanish land grants, and issues with territorial boundaries. Despite these obstacles, Duval was able to establish a stable government and promote economic growth in the territory. The research examines Duval's policies and decisions, as well as his relationships with other political figures of the time, to gain a deeper understanding of his leadership and impact on the development of Florida. This project will also further delve into how Florida was managed while Duval was absent from his position. Letters between
important politicians and official documents will be analyzed in order to construct an image of Florida’s second governor. The sources gathered to assemble the information in the project were found through the use of multiple digital archives, collaboration with historical foundations located in Tallahassee, and references to books that cover surrounding topics. Due to the 200-year anniversary of Tallahassee's founding occurring in 2024, this history is more important than ever.

Keywords: William Pope DuVal, Tallahassee, Governor