Robert R. Reid

Robert Raymond Reid (September 8, 1789 - July 1, 1841) was the fourth territorial governor of Florida. He was also a Representative from Georgia. He also held several judicial positions.

Robert Reid was born in Prince William Parish, Beaufort District, South Carolina, in 1789. He was educated in Augusta, Georgia, and practiced law there. Reid began public service at age 27 as a judge and later served Georgia as an at-large Representative from Georgia to the 15th, 16th, & 17th United States Congresses and served from February 18, 1819, to March 3, 1823. He also held several judicial positions including judge in the superior court of Georgia, circuit court judge for Middle Georgia, city judge for Augusta, Georgia. In May 1832, he was appointed United States judge for the district of East Florida by U.S. President Andrew Jackson.

U.S. President Martin Van Buren appointed Reid governor of Florida in December 1839. Reid presided at the convention that drafted Florida's first constitution and advocated a vigorous prosecution of the Second Seminole War. He died at his home in Blackwood near Tallahassee, Florida, on July 1, 1841, a victim of a yellow fever epidemic.

References

* [http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/museum/collections/governors/about.cfm?id=5 Official Governor's portrait and biography from the State of Florida]
*CongBio|R000151

External Links

[http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/museum/collections/governors/about.cfm?id=5 Official Governor's portrait and biography from the State of Florida]