Mariano D. Papy (October 9, 1824 – July 8, 1875), also known as M. D. Papy, was an American planter, attorney, and politician from the state of Florida. Papy served as the 5th

Florida Attorney General The Florida attorney general is an elected Florida Cabinet, cabinet official in the U.S. state of Florida. The attorney general serves as the chief legal officer of the state, and is head of the Florida Department of Legal Affairs. The office is ...

from 1853 to 1861.

Early life

Papy was born on October 9, 1824, in the city of

St. Augustine Augustine of Hippo ( , ; ; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430) was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. His writings deeply influenced the development of Western philosop ...

, the

largest city The United Nations uses three definitions for what constitutes a city, as not all cities in all jurisdictions are classified using the same criteria. Cities may be defined as the cities proper, the extent of their urban area, or their metrop ...

in the

Florida Territory The Territory of Florida was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 30, 1822, until March 3, 1845, when it was admitted to the Union as the state of Florida. Originally the major portion of the Spanish ...

at the time. Though he was born into a poor family, Papy taught himself how to read law. Additionally, he found wealth after an

overseer Overseer may refer to: Professions *Supervisor or superintendent; one who keeps watch over and directs the work of others *Plantations_in_the_American_South#Overseer, Plantation overseer, often in the context of forced labor or Treatment_of_slaves ...

helped him become a successful cotton planter. In 1840, Papy, known for his memory and perceptiveness, was admitted into the Florida Territorial Bar by order of the Florida Territorial Legislative Council despite only begin 16.

Political career

When Florida received statehood in 1845, Papy, a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

, was named the first Clerk of the

Florida Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Florida is the state supreme court, highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. It consists of seven justices—one of whom serves as Chief Justice. Six members are chosen from six districts around the state to foster geog ...

by Governor

William Dunn Moseley William Dunn Moseley (February 1, 1795January 4, 1863) was an American politician. Born in North Carolina, Moseley became a Democratic politician and served in the state senate. Later he moved to Florida, which became a state in 1845. That y ...

. He served in this position until 1849, when he returned to private practice. In 1852, he represented Leon County for a single year in the

Florida House of Representatives The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the State legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida, the Florida Senate being the upper house. Article III, Section 1 of the C ...

. The following year, Papy was elected to be the fifth

. He would serve two terms, opting not to run for a third term due to the onset of the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. During the Civil War, many pro-secessionists in Florida became increasingly critical of the worsening economy under Governor

John Milton John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674) was an English poet, polemicist, and civil servant. His 1667 epic poem ''Paradise Lost'' was written in blank verse and included 12 books, written in a time of immense religious flux and politic ...

. On January 14, 1862, the

Florida Secession Convention Florida participated in the American Civil War as a member of the Confederate States of America. It had been admitted to the United States as a slave state in 1845. In January 1861, Florida became the third Southern state to secede from the ...

reconvened and voted to create an executive council to assist the governor. Papy was appointed to the council of four, serving alongside planter Smith Simkins of Jefferson County, James A. Wiggins of Marion County, and W. D. Barnes of Jackson County. Though initially subservient to Milton, the council helped his leadership demonstrate more foresight. Papy retired to private practice after the end of the war.

Death and burial

Though seemingly healthy, Papy died in

Tallahassee, Florida Tallahassee ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of and the only incorporated municipality in Leon County, Florida, Leon County. Tallahassee became the capital of Fl ...

on July 8, 1875. He is buried in Tallahassee's Old City Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Papy, Mariano D. 1824 births 1875 deaths Florida attorneys general Democratic Party members of the Florida House of Representatives 19th-century American lawyers People from St. Augustine, Florida Politicians from Tallahassee, Florida People of Florida in the American Civil War 19th-century American planters American cotton plantation owners 19th-century members of the Florida Legislature

Early life

Political career

Death and burial

See also

References