In the Sunshine State on this day in:

1785 The Treaty of San Lorenzo was signed between the United States and Spain.  The treaty opened the Mississippi River to American commerce and the border between the United States and West Florida was agreed to as the 31 degrees north latitude.

1819 Henry Bradley Plant, pioneer developer of railroads on Florida’s west coast and the founder of the Plant System of railroads and steamships, was born in Branford, CT. 

During the Civil War, Plant was the southern manager for Adams Express Company, which he renamed the Southern Express Company.  Plant’s services were considered so valuable to the Confederate government during the war that he was excused from the requirement that he become a Confederate citizen.

After the war, Plant began to assembled the Plant System in the South.  In Florida, the Plant System ran from Jacksonville to Palatka and Sanford.  Ultimately the Plant System stretched to Tampa and points south.  By 1895, Plant had more than 1,400 miles of railroads under his control and about 1,300 miles of steamer routes. 

Known as the “Father of Tampa,” Plant erected the Moorish palace known as the Tampa Bay Hotel, developed Port Tampa as a deep water port, and made possible, through his railroad, the development of West Tampa and Ybor City as cigar producing areas.  He also developed the Belleview Hotel in Pinellas County, at the time the largest wooden structure in the world.

 A friendly rivalry developed between Henry Plant and Henry Flagler.  When Plant opened his Tampa Bay Hotel (at a cost of more than $4 million), it is reported that he invited Flagler to attend.  When Flagler responded, “Where is Tampa?” Plant answered, “Just follow the crowds, Henry, just follow the crowds!”

The Tampa Bay Hotel served as the headquarters for General William Shafter and the American Army during the Spanish-American War.  The fame of the hotel was spread nationwide, and Tampa became the destination of America’s wealthy tourists.

Tragically, Plant died just a year later

1924 New Port Richey was formally incorporated as a city.

1961 St. John Vianney Minor Seminary was chartered in Miami.