Amelia Island Florida Visitor Guide 2009 - (Page 31) Eight Flags History A dmiral Jean Ribault landed on Amelia The blessing of President James Madison’s Island on May 3, 1562, greeted by government a group of American “patriots” Native American Timucuans. Ribault in St. Mary’s Georgia raised their flag on renamed the island L’isle de Mai and claimed March 13, 1812. The Spanish retaliated and the land for France raising the first of eight the American patriots left Amelia Island on flags that would fly on the island. May 16, 1813. In 1565 the Spanish arrived on In June 1817 another flag was the island commanded by Pedro raised over Amelia Island. General Menendez. They vanquished the Sir Gregor MacGregor was deterFrench and set up the Santa Maria mined to rid north Florida of its Mission. They named the island Spanish presence. With financial for the mission and raised the backing from Americans in BaltiSpanish flag. more, MacGregor raised his own The island remained Spain’s family flag with St. George’s Green possession until 1763 and received Cross on a white field. it’s new name “Amelia” before the A Frenchman named Luis Aury, English took possession. James sanctioned as a privateer (a semiOgelthorpe, founder and governor legitimate pirate) because he had of Georgia led a scouting expedia letter of marquee from Mexican tion south and came upon the revolutionary leaders sailed into island in March 1736. Ogelthorpe port on September 17, 1817 with immediately named it Amelia three ships, and three days later Island in honor of King George’s hoisted the red-bordered, blue and daughter. white checked flag of the MexiThe island then became an can revolutionaries and declared uninhabited buffer between Spanhimself ruler. ish Florida and English Georgia. On December 23, 1817 five In 1761 during the French and American ships sailed into FernanIndian War, the Spanish sided with dina and disembarked 200 troops, the French, which cost them the reclaiming the island “in trust for island. In 1763 the Treaty of Paris Spain.” Aury surrendered without ended the war and made Florida a fight and the American flag flew England’s possession. The English above the American occupied isflag was raised over the island. land although the island still legally During the English period the belonged to Spain. island was known as Egmont President John Quincy Adams because nearly all of it was owned refused to withdraw the garrison under a royal grant, by John Perof American troops. While the ceval the Second Earl of Egmont. American flag was flying over In 1784 the second Treaty of Paris Amelia Island, one more was yet gave Florida back to Spain because to be hoisted. On January 8, 1861 Content provided by Amelia Islander Magazine the Third Regiment of Florida of its support for the Americans. The second Spanish possession lasted Volunteers marched into Fort Cinch and until 1821. During this period the town of raised the Confederate flag. In 1862 word Fernandina got its name. In 1811 the Spanish got to Fernandina that a Union flotilla of post on the island was named Fernandina in 28 gunboats was on its way and most of the honor of Spanish King Ferdinand VII. citizens left. The Confederate forces deserted During the second Spanish period, two and the Confederate flag was replaced by the other flags were hoisted over Amelia Island. Stars and Stripes. 31
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