In the Sunshine State on this day in 1565 From the account of Pedro Menendez’s expedition to Florida in 1565 by Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales, the chaplain to the expedition.

 In this entry, Friar Mendoza recounts the arrival of Menendez in St. Augustine following his victory at Fort Caroline....

So today, Monday the 24th, at the hour of vespers, our good General [Menendez] entered, accompanied by 50 foot soldiers, and they stumbled and were very tired, he and all those who came with him.  The news made known, I quickly went to my house and took out a new cassock, the best I had, and a surplice and I took a crucifix in my hands and went out to receive him at a distance before he arrived at this port.  He, like a good Christian gentleman, before I reached him, threw himself on his knees with all the rest that came with him, giving thanks to Our Lord for the great mercies received.  In this manner he was received with great rejoicing by us and we by him.  So great is his zeal and Christianity that all these works are rest for his spirit.  Certainly it appears to me that there could not be human strength to endure so much, considering what he did.  The fire and desire he has to serve Our Lord in throwing down and destroying this Lutheran sect, enemy of our Holy Catholic Faith, does not allow him to feel weary in the work.

In 1812 The United States Army left Goodby’s Lake on the Upper St. John’s River for Alachua County, where they engaged a force of Seminoles near Windsor.
In 1876 Temple Beth El Congregation, Florida’s oldest Jewish Congregation, was founded at Pensacola.