Richard K. Call
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2013) |
Richard K. Call | |
---|---|
U.S. House of Representatives from the Florida Territory | |
In office March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | |
Preceded by | Joseph M. Hernandez |
Succeeded by | Joseph M. White |
Personal details | |
Born | Pittsfield, Prince George County, Virginia | October 24, 1792
Died | September 14, 1862 The Grove Plantation | (aged 69)
Nationality | American |
Political party | Whig |
Spouse | Mary Letitia Kirkman Call |
Children | Ellen Call Long Mary Call Brevard |
Relatives | Wilkinson Call (nephew) David S. Walker (cousin) |
Occupation | lawyer, land speculator, railroad owner |
Richard Keith Call (October 24, 1792 – September 14, 1862) was an American attorney, politician, and slave owner who served as the 3rd and 5th
Early life and education
Richard Call was born to William and Helen Meade Walker Call and was the nephew of another Richard Call, a Revolutionary War hero.[3] Call was born in Pittsfield, Prince George County, Virginia. When Call was young, his father William and two of his brothers died. Shortly after 1800, his widowed mother brought her four surviving children and five slaves across the Appalachian Mountains into Kentucky.[4] She eventually settled on land owned by her brother Senator David Walker in Russellville, Kentucky, where Call spent most of his remaining childhood. Following the death of his mother in 1810, Call settled near another uncle in Tennessee in order to receive a formal education. In 1813 he left college to take part in the Creek War, which occurred during the period of the War of 1812 with Great Britain. Call was the uncle of Wilkinson Call, who much later became a U.S. Senator.
War and politics
Richard Call came favorably to the attention of General
Call was a delegate to the 1856 Know Nothing convention in Philadelphia, but walked out over the North vs. South split over slavery (demanding that Section 12 in support of the Kansas-Nebraska act be restored).[5]
Marriage and family
In 1824 Call married Mary Letitia Kirkman of Nashville. Her parents were enemies of Jackson and opposed the marriage. The young couple was married at General Jackson's home, the
Florida
Call made the rest of his life in Florida. He was appointed as receiver in the land office, giving him insight into developing areas. He was elected to the Legislative Council of the territory and served as a
On March 16, 1836, he was appointed by President
In the 1840 presidential campaign, Call crossed party lines to assist Whig William Henry Harrison, who won and appointed him again as governor of Florida. During this second term, which began on March 19, 1841, Call moved the territory closer to statehood. He worked to minimize the financial problems that Florida suffered due to bank failures and a national business depression. He left office on August 11, 1844.
In 1845, Florida became a state and Call sought election as governor. His role in supporting the election of President Harrison caused him to lose.
Planter and slaveholder
During the 1830s, he had developed two
The Grove Plantation was purchased in 1942 by future Florida governor LeRoy Collins, and his wife Mary Call Darby Collins, a great-granddaughter of Richard Call. Collins later was elected for two terms as governor. Today the Call-Collins Mansion at the Grove is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Collinses sold the house and property to the state for use as a historic house museum.
Legacy
Several streets in Florida are named after Richard K. Call. Call Streets are in
The World War II Liberty ship SS Richard K. Call was named in his honor.
References
- ^ a b Thomas Blake, "Largest Slaveholders from 1863 Slave Census Schedules", Free pages, Rootsweb
- ^ Florida in the Civil War. Florida Memory. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Call and Brevard Family Papers" Archived 2006-02-15 at the Wayback Machine, Florida Memory, State Library and Archives of Florida
- ^ Call, Richard. "Richard K. Call's dairy". Florida Memory. Florida Department of State. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- OCLC 925224120.
- Morris, Allen and Joan Perry Morris, compilers. The Florida Handbook 2007–2008 31st Biennial Edition. p. 304. Peninsula Publishing. Tallahassee. 2007. ISBN 978-0-9765846-2-9Hardcover
External links
- Biographical Directory of the US Congress
- Official Governor's portrait and biography from the State of Florida
- Call Family and Brevard Family Papers, Florida Memory, State Library and Archives of Florida. This collection contains correspondence, writings, and other papers of Richard Keith Call and his family from 1788 to 1916.
- Richard K. Call at Find a Grave