Madison S. Perry

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Madison Perry gubernatorial portrait
Madison Perry gubernatorial portrait

Madison Starke Perry (1814–March 1865) was the fourth governor of Florida.

Born in Lancaster, South Carolina, he came to Florida in the late 1830s, settled and founded the village of Rochelle, Florida in Alachua County. He became a leader among the plantation owners in Alachua County and was elected to represent the county in the Florida Senate in 1850. He ran for and was elected governor in 1856, assuming office on October 5, 1857. As governor, Perry helped bring about the settlement of a long-standing boundary dispute with Georgia and encouraged the building of railways. During the years before the Civil War, Governor Perry foresaw the possibility that Florida might secede from the Union, and in 1858 urged the reestablishment of the state’s militia. Florida did secede three years later, on January 11, 1861. After his term as governor ended on October 7, 1861, Perry served as colonel of the 7th Florida Regiment until illness forced his retirement. He died at his plantation in Rochelle in March 1865.

The city of Starke, Florida is named in honor of him.

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Preceded by
James E. Broome
Governor of Florida
October 5, 1857October 7, 1861
Succeeded by
John Milton