Permanent Link:

https://original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu/UF00086434/00001

Material Information

Title:

Letter to Comte Thibaudeau, Wascissa

Creator:

Murat, Achille, 1801-1847

Publication Date:

November 1, 1826

Language:

French

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:

Political refugees -- Correspondence -- France ( lcsh )
Political refugees -- Correspondence -- Florida ( lcsh )
Plantations -- Florida -- Wascissa ( lcsh )
History -- United States -- 19th century ( lcsh )
Social life and customs -- United States -- 19th century ( lcsh )
History -- Florida -- 1821-1865 ( lcsh )
Social life and customs -- Florida -- 19th century ( lcsh )
Politics and government -- France -- 19th century ( lcsh )
Leon -- 12073 ( CEEUS )
St Johns -- 12109 ( CEEUS )
Territorial Florida, 1821-1845 ( fhp )

Notes

Summary:

The collection consists of 24 letters dated between December 29, 1822, and March 8, 1841, as well as 6 undated items. The letters cover a wide range of topics, from domestic life to politics to science and nature. Murat wrote about his early observations on life in the United States and Florida, conditions at his plantation, Lipona, his family life (including his sometimes stormy relations with his uncle, Joseph Bonaparte) and his views on political events in Europe. All the letters are written in French.

Summary:

The original letters are accompanied by typescripts in French and occasionally by English translations. Most of Murat's political observations were eventually published in his work, A moral and political sketch of the United States of North America, 1833. All letters are addressed to Murat's former tutor in France. Florida personalities mentioned in the letters include governors William Duval and Richard Keith Call.

Biographical:

Planter and attorney.

Biographical:

Achille eventually settled in Florida, first in St. Augustine, and afterwards at Wascissa, Florida, near Tallahassee. On July 12, 1826, he married Catherine Daingerfield Willis Gray, a distant niece of George Washington. Achille made his living as a planter and an attorney, published his observations on life in America, and made numerous trips back to Europe, involving himself in various intrigues against the French monarchy.

Biographical:

Because of his father's title as King of Naples, Floridians often referred to Murat and his wife as the Prince and Princess of Tallahassee. He was one of the most colorful and opinionated settlers in territorial Florida.

Language:

The bulk of the material is in French, but some of the correspondence is translated into English.

Record Information

Source Institution:

University of Florida

Holding Location:

University of Florida

Rights Management:

All rights reserved. Board of Trustees of the University of Florida

UFDC Membership

Aggregations:

European Collections
The Floridians
Florida Letters of Achille Murat, Prince of Tallahassee
The French in Florida... French Florida
University of Florida