[FHStoday] (no subject)

[Nick Wynne]

TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY
DECEMBER 2
1839            Robert Raymond Reid, the fourth Territorial governor of 
Florida (December 2, 1839-August 11, 1844), took office today.  Reid was 
born in Prince William Parish, South Carolina on September 8, 1789.  He was 
educated in Augusta, Georgia, and practiced law there.  At age 27, Reid 
became the judge of the Burke County (GA) Superior Court.  In 1832, 
President Andrew Jackson appointed him the United States Judge of east 
Florida.  He continued in this office until he was appointed governor by 
President Martin Van Buren on December 2, 1839.  Reid presided over the 
Constitutional Convention at St. Joseph (See entry for December 3).  He 
died in Leon County on July 1, 1841.

1862            Colonel William G. M. Davis of the 1st Florida Cavalry 
received his appointed today as a Brigadier General and was assigned to 
command Confederate forces at Knoxville and parts of East Tennessee.
                 The Florida Comptroller, Walter Gwynn, reported that the 
state expended $958,260.76 during the fiscal year that ended on October 
31.  The state received $1,068,397.58 in taxes and other revenues.

1863            As of this date, Federal naval authorities reported that 
thirty-four Union ships were attached to the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, 
which enforced the naval blockade of Florida from Cape Canaveral on the 
East Coast to St. Andrews Bay on the Gulf Coast.
                 Men from the Federal bark, Restless, laying at anchor at 
St. Andrews Bay, marched inland to Lake Ocala.  At Lake Ocala, they 
destroyed three separate salt works belonging to a Mr. Kent.  The 
operations, which could produce 130 pounds of salt per day, were worked by 
a force of seventeen men, who were captured and paroled.  In addition to 
the boilers, two flatboats, six oxcarts and other equipment were 
destroyed.  A large quantity of salt was thrown into the lake.

1910            Charles E. Bennett, former congressman from Jacksonville, 
was born today in Canton, New York.  Bennett has the distinction of being 
the member of Congress with the record of casting the greatest number of 
consecutive roll-call votes in U.S. history.

1925            The Florida Cattle Tick Eradication Committee, founded in 
1916, formally changed its name today to the Florida State Chamber of 
Commerce at a meeting in St. Petersburg.

1957            Atlantic Beach, first incorporated in 1926, was 
re-chartered today as a city.

                 December 2 is a favorite launch date for NASA.  On this 
date, the following shuttle launches took place:
                         1988            STS-27
                         1990            STS-35
                         1992            STS-53
                         1993            STS-61