Home / War and Conflict / Founding Fathers Imprisoned in Florida Fort
Founding Fathers Imprisoned in Florida Fort
4 Jul
Summary
- Three signers of the Declaration of Independence were prisoners.
- They were held at Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine.
- The patriots secretly wrote a song, 'God Save the Thirteen States'.
During the American Revolution, three signatories of the Declaration of Independence found themselves prisoners of war in St. Augustine, Florida. These patriots, Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton, and Thomas Hayward, Jr., were held within the historic Castillo de San Marcos, known then as Fort Saint Mark by the British.
They were among dozens of American exiles sent to St. Augustine after the fall of Charleston in 1780. Lt. Governor Christopher Gadsden, considered the most dangerous by the British, was also imprisoned in the fort's dungeon. This chapter of history highlights Florida's role in the Revolutionary War, as the British controlled fifteen colonies, including East and West Florida.
After approximately ten months of confinement, the three signers were exchanged. Prior to their release, they orchestrated a clandestine reception where they penned "God Save the Thirteen States," a patriotic anthem sung to the tune of the British national song, "God Save the King."
