On this day in 1842 The Armed Occupation Act was passed by Congress. Each settler who would settle and cultivate five acres or more of land in eastern and southern Florida for a period of five years would receive 160 acres of land and one year’s rations from the Federal government. Settlers were expected also to provide militia service, if needed, to control the activities of the warring Seminole Indians. This was the prelude to the official declaration of the end of the Second Seminole War on August 14, 1842.

In 1944 ceremonies were held at the Underwater Demolition Training facility in Ft. Pierce to celebrate the 154th anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard.

In 1984 the Cypriot freighter, Wellwood, rammed Molasses Reef, the only living coral reef in continental United States’ waters, and destroyed 19,000 square feet of living coral. Stuck on the reef for 12 days, additional sections of the reef were destroyed when tugs worked to free her from her perch.