Samuel Pasco
Encyclopedia
Samuel Pasco was a United States Senator
from Florida
.
with his family as a child and settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts
. Pasco attended Harvard University
and then moved to Florida in 1859. He served as principal of the Waukeenah Academy, a school in Monticello, Florida
, from 1860 to 1861.
When the American Civil War
began, though he had only lived in the South for two years, Pasco joined the army of the Confederate States of America
. He fought as a member of the Florida Third Volunteers. He was captured in Mississippi
and imprisoned by the United States for the rest of the war. He was released in March 1865 and immediately returned to Florida to resume his post as principal of the Waukeenah Academy. He resigned from that position in 1866 but remained in Florida, serving as clerk of Jefferson County
from 1866 to 1868. He eventually became a prominent lawyer in the area.
In 1885, he was the President of a convention which made a new constitution
for Florida. He was a member of the Florida State Assembly from 1886 to 1887 and briefly served as speaker in 1887.
In 1887, Pasco was elected to the U.S. Senate from Florida, as a member of the United States Democratic Party
. He served in the Senate for two terms, until 1899, when he was defeated for reelection. He then became a member of the Isthmian Canal Commission, which decided that a canal should be built through the isthmus of Panama
. He remained on this commission until 1905, when work on the canal began.
Pasco then retired from public life and moved back to Monticello. He died in Tampa, Florida
and was buried in the Roseland cemetery in Monticello. Pasco County, Florida
is named for him.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Biography
Born in London, England, he moved to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his family as a child and settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and is located on a peninsula north of downtown Boston. Charlestown was originally a separate town and the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; it became a city in 1847 and was annexed by Boston on January 5, 1874...
. Pasco attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and then moved to Florida in 1859. He served as principal of the Waukeenah Academy, a school in Monticello, Florida
Monticello, Florida
Monticello is a city in Jefferson County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,533 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 2,572. It is the county seat of Jefferson County...
, from 1860 to 1861.
When the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
began, though he had only lived in the South for two years, Pasco joined the army of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. He fought as a member of the Florida Third Volunteers. He was captured in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and imprisoned by the United States for the rest of the war. He was released in March 1865 and immediately returned to Florida to resume his post as principal of the Waukeenah Academy. He resigned from that position in 1866 but remained in Florida, serving as clerk of Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Florida
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population is 12,902. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 14,490 . Its county seat is Monticello, Florida....
from 1866 to 1868. He eventually became a prominent lawyer in the area.
In 1885, he was the President of a convention which made a new constitution
Florida Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Florida is the document that establishes and describes the duties, powers, structure and function of the government of the U.S. state of Florida, and establishes the basic law of the state....
for Florida. He was a member of the Florida State Assembly from 1886 to 1887 and briefly served as speaker in 1887.
In 1887, Pasco was elected to the U.S. Senate from Florida, as a member of the United States Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. He served in the Senate for two terms, until 1899, when he was defeated for reelection. He then became a member of the Isthmian Canal Commission, which decided that a canal should be built through the isthmus of Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. He remained on this commission until 1905, when work on the canal began.
Pasco then retired from public life and moved back to Monticello. He died in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
and was buried in the Roseland cemetery in Monticello. Pasco County, Florida
Pasco County, Florida
Pasco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 344,765. The July 1, 2007 census estimate according to the U.S. Census Bureau for the county is 462,715. Its county seat is Dade City, Florida which is in the northeast part of the county - somewhat...
is named for him.
See also
- List of United States Senators from Florida
- United States congressional delegations from FloridaUnited States congressional delegations from FloridaThese are tables of congressional delegations from Florida to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.Unlike many smaller states that generally have continuity in their districts when reapportioned every 10 years after the United States Census, Florida has seen a great...