Joseph Marion Hernández

American politician and military leader

• Born: May 26, 1788
• Birthplace: St. Augustine, Florida
• Died: June 8, 1857
• Place of death: Matanzas, Cuba

Hernández was an active participant in the Florida militia and saw action during the Second Seminole War (1835-1842). He became active in national and local politics, and he was the first Hispanic to be elected to the U.S. Congress.

Early Life

Joseph Marion Hernández (ehr-NAHN-dehz) was born in St. Augustine, Florida, on May 26, 1788, when Florida was, for the second time in its history, a Spanish possession. His birth name was José Mariano Hernández.

Hernández’s parents were Minorcan immigrants who had come to Florida when it was a British possession in the period from 1763 to 1784. The Minorcans were a diverse group of people recruited from the Mediterranean area and brought to Florida by the Scottish doctor Andrew Turnbull. They were contracted to work on Turnbull’s indigo plantation for nine years as indentured workers, after which they would receive their freedom and some land. Hernández’s father, Martin Hernández, had been leader of the Turnbull Colony in New Smyrna, which was about seventy miles south of St. Augustine.

In 1816, Hernández bought the plantation Mala Compra, which became his residence. He later acquired two other properties: Bella Vista and Buyks Hammock, also known as St. Ann’s. The three properties made Hernández wealthy, and he was one of the largest landowners in Florida. Oranges, corn, and sea cotton were among the crops grown at Mala Compra, which was also known for its sugar production.

Life’s Work

During the second Spanish period in Florida, various Indian tribes began moving into unoccupied areas. Escaped slaves who made it to Florida were welcomed by the Spanish, but this began to cause problems for landowners who wanted their slaves back. Initially, Hernández and a neighboring plantation owner, John Bulow, were supporters of Indian rights and attempted to befriend Native Americans.

In 1817, the First Seminole War began and lasted until May, 1818. Although relatively untouched by the First Seminole War, later events would change Hernández’s mind about the political situation with the Indians.

In 1821, the United States acquired the territory of Florida from Spain. Hernández changed his allegiance, becoming an American citizen and changing his given name from José Mariano to Joseph Marion but keeping his family name unchanged.

From 1821 to1845, Hernández became involved in American politics. On January 3, 1823, he took office as Florida’s first delegate to the U.S. Congress. Hernández was the first Hispanic to serve in Congress, completing his service on March 3, 1825. He later made an unsuccessful attempt at reelection. Instead, from 1824 to 1825, Hernández turned to local politics and became the presiding officer of Florida’s territorial house of representatives.

The Second Seminole War, also known as the Florida War, was fought from from 1835 to 1842. In 1836, despite Hernández’s previous attempts to be a good neighbor to the local Indians, the Seminoles raided and burned his plantation, Mala Compra. Hernández was galvanized into action, and he joined the East Florida Militia, where he soon attained the rank of brigadier general. His property at St. Joseph was used to store the militia’s provisions and ammunition, and Mala Compra was used as the military headquarters for his unit.

In 1837, as a brigadier general of the Mounted Volunteers, Hernández served under Major General Thomas Sydney Jesup. During Jesup’s Second Seminole War campaign of 1837, Hernández led the eastern force that operated between the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean. Hernández was instrumental in capturing Seminole chief Oceola, who was arrested when he arrived for a purported meeting with Jesup. Hernández also captured several other Seminole leaders.

In 1845, Florida attained its statehood. Making another bid for office, Hernández ran unsuccessfully as the Whig candidate for the U.S. Senate. He again returned to local politics, and in 1848 he served a one-year term as mayor of St. Augustine.

Hernández petitioned Congress over a period of several years for remuneration for the damages sustained to his plantations. The destruction was severe and left the plantations all but worthless. After trying unsuccessfully to restore them, Hernández immigrated to Cuba and became a planter near Matanzas in the Coliseo district, where his family owned a sugar estate.

Hernández lived in Cuba until his death in 1857. He is buried in the Necropolis San Carlos Borromeo in the del Junco family vault.

Significance

Hernández’s history is one of both political and military successes. He was a wealthy plantation owner, possessing three plantations in the St. Augustine area. After Florida became a U.S. territory, Hernández changed his allegiance and became a U.S. citizen. Hernández became actively involved in national politics and was soon elected Florida’s first nonvoting delegate to the U.S. Congress, becoming the first Hispanic to serve in Congress. After his term, he returned to Florida where he successfully served in various local political offices.

Hernández was also successful in the military and was recognized for his leadership. He was initially involved with the Florida Militia and then commissioned by the U.S. Army. He served in the Second Seminole War as a brigadier general and led the expedition that captured Seminole chief Oceola.

Bibliography

Mahon, John K. History of the Second Seminole War, 1835-1842. Gainesville: University of Florida Press, 2010. Mahon focuses on the Second Seminole War, one of three conflicts that involved the Seminole Indians. His book includes a biography of Hernández.

Peters, Virginia Bergman. The Florida Wars. North Haven, Conn.: Archon Books, 1979. A history of the Florida Wars, which are more commonly known as the Seminole Wars. Peters includes an account of Major General Jesup’s campaign, in which Hernández played a decisive role.