On this day in the Sunshine State ...

1839 Robert Raymond Reid, the fourth Territorial governor of Florida (December 2, 1839-August 11, 1844), took office today.  Reid was born in Prince William Parish, South Carolina on September 8, 1789.  He was educated in Augusta, Georgia, and practiced law there.  At age 27, Reid became the judge of the Burke County (GA) Superior Court.  In 1832, President Andrew Jackson appointed him the United States Judge of east Florida.  He continued in this office until he was appointed governor by President Martin Van Buren on December 2, 1839.  Reid presided over the Constitutional Convention at St. Joseph (See entry for December 3).  He died in Leon County on July 1, 1841.


1910 Charles E. Bennett, former congressman from Jacksonville, was born today in Canton, New York.  Bennett has the distinction of being the member of Congress with the record of casting the greatest number of consecutive roll-call votes in U.S. history.  Bennett died in 2003


1925 The Florida Cattle Tick Eradication Committee, founded in 1916, formally changed its name today to the Florida State Chamber of Commerce at a meeting in St. Petersburg.


1957Atlantic Beach, first incorporated in 1926, was re-chartered today as a city.

December 2 is a favorite launch date for NASA.  On this date, the following shuttle launches took place.

1988                 STS-27

1990                 STS-35

1992                 STS-53

1993                 STS-61