José Masot
| José Masot | |
|---|---|
| 14th Governor of West Florida | |
|
In office March 8, 1816 – May 26, 1818 |
|
| Preceded by | Francisco San Maxent |
| Succeeded by | William King |
| Personal details | |
| Born | late 18th century and early 19th century Unknown |
| Died | Unknown Unknown |
| Profession | Soldier and Politician |
José Masot, also known as José Fascot, was a governor and military commander. He served as Governor of West Florida from March 8, 1816 - May 26, 1818. Masot was in command during the initial stages of The First Seminole War until he was deposed by American general Andrew Jackson and replaced with William King. Masot also served as subdelegate of the Intendant and superintendent general of Florida.
Little is known about José Masot's childhood. He joined the Spanish Navy in his youth and eventually rose to the rank of Colonel. Masot was appointed governor of West Florida in March 8, 1816. Masot dealt severely with a slave uprising.
Masot was the Governor of Florida at the outbreak of The First Seminole War. After a garrison of the Negro Fort killed a group of American sailors, General Jackson decided to destroy it. In April 1816, Jackson informed Masot that if the Spanish did not eliminate the Negro Fort, he would. Masot replied that he did not have sufficient forces to take the fort. Jackson then assigned Brigadier General Edmund Pendleton Gaines to the task.
On July 1816, a supply fleet for Fort Scott reached the Apalachicola River. Colonel Duncan Lamont Clinch took a force of more than 100 American soldiers and about 150 Lower Creek warriors, including the chief Tustunnugee Hutkee (White Warrior), to protect their passage. The supply fleet met Clinch at the Negro Fort, and its two gunboats took positions across the river from the fort. The men in the fort fired their cannon at their opponents, but had no training in aiming the weapon. The Americans fired back and destroyed the fort. Of the 320 people known to be in the fort, which included women and children, more than 250 died during the assault with many others succumbing to their injuries soon after. Once the fort was destroyed, the US army withdrew from Spanish Florida.
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Wikipedia