Fulwar Skipwith

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Fulwar Skipwith (February 21, 1765 - January 7, 1839) was an American diplomat, who served as a U.S. Consul in Martinique, and later as the U.S. Consul-General in France. He was instrumental in negotiating the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Skipwith was born in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, and was a distant cousin of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson.

Image:Bonnieblue.svg In 1809, Skipwith moved to West Florida. A member of the first West Florida judiciary, he was involved in the 1810 West Florida Rebellion, and served as the first and only President of the short-lived Republic of West Florida. On October 27, 1810, the West Florida territory was annexed to the United States by proclamation of U.S. President James Madison, who claimed the region as part of the Louisiana Purchase. At first, Skipwith and the West Florida government were opposed to the proclamation, perferring to negotate terms to join the Union. However, William C.C. Claiborne, who was sent to take possession of the territory, refused to recognize the legitamacy of the West Florida government. Skipwith and the legislature eventually backed down, and agreed to accept Madison's proclamation.

Skipwith later served in the Louisiana Senate. In December 1814 Magloire Guichard and Skipwith, sponsored a legislative resolution to grant amnesty to "the privateers lately resorting to Barataria, who might be deterred from offering their services for fear of persecution."

In 1827, Skipwith, Armand Duplantier, Antoine Blanc, Thomas B. Robertson and Sebastien Hiriart received permission from the state legislature to organize a corporation entitled the Agricultural Society of Baton Rouge.

Skipwith died at Montsanto Plantation on the Bluffs above Baton Rouge on January 7, 1839 at 74 years old.

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References

David A. Bice. The Original Lone Star Republic: Scoundrels, Statesmen and Schemers of the 1810 West Florida Rebellion. Hertiage Publishing Consultants, 2004.

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