Samuel J. Douglas

Samuel J. Douglas was a Democratic politician who served as a Superior Court Judge for Florida's Middle District from 1841 to 1845. As such, he was the youngest person to sit on Florida's Territorial Court of Appeals. He served as a Florida Supreme Court Justice from 1866 to 1868. He was born on October 10, 1812 in Petersburg, Virginia. He died on November 14, 1873.

Justice Douglas was a family friend of President John Tyler. He graduated from the University of Virginia and entered into the practice of law in Southampton County. When a mutual acquaintance declined a posstion on the Florida Territorial Appeals Court, he recommended Douglas, whom President Tyler appointed on October 12, 1841. He subsequently appointed him to a four-year term on February 15, 1842.

This was a tumultuous time in Florida history, and Douglas met the task of restoring the rule of law to curb both criminal offenders and planters and businessmen trying to escape responsibility for their debts. His firmness made him sufficiently unpopular that after statehood, the Florida Legislature did not reappoint him to the Bench. He then opened a legal practice in Tallahassee until he was appointed Collector of Customs at Key West in 1849.

In 1847, he had married Elizabeth Lizzie Brown, the daughter of Governor Thomas Brown, after the death of his first wife. He opened a law office in 1853, and practiced law on Key West until outbreak the Civil War. His Secessionist tendencies made him "persona non grata" to Federal authorities, and he returned to Virginia. He served the Confederacy as a military judge, and returned to Florida after the cessation of hostilities.

In the summer of 1865, he became a private secretary to Governor William Marvin. In 1866, Governor David S. Walker appointed Douglas to replace Justice Augustus E. Maxwell. He was one of four Justices appointed by Governor Marvin. In the uncertainty of Florida under Federal occupation, Douglas' efforts centered on resolving conflicts Florida and military officials. In 1868, he left the Court to return to private practice.

He died of a stroke on November 14, 1873 in Tallahassee.

References

*Manley, Walter W., Brown, E. Canter. and Rise, Eric W. "The Supreme Court of Florida and Its Predecessor Courts, 1821-1917." pp 91 - 94. University Press of Florida. Gainesville, Florida. 1997. eBook ISBN: 9780813022987. ISBN: 9780813015408. at [http://www.netlibrary.com/Reader/ Netlbrary] . Online. May 18, 2008.
* [http://209.85.215.104/search?q=cache:nvu8l12jV0YJ:www.floridasupremecourt.org/pub_info/documents/appointed.pdf+%22Samuel+J.+Douglas%22+%2BFlorida&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us Thursby, Mary Agnes, compiler. Revised by Jo Dowling & the Office of Public Information. SUCCESSION OF JUSTICES OF SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA. Online. May 17, 2008.]
* [http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/justices/chrono.shtml Justices of the Florida Supreme Court]
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/douglas.html#RSD1F1C2R Political Graveyard]