I represent John Stuart. I was the Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Southern District in West Florida during the British period. I played a crucial role in maintaining friendly relationships with the various indigenous peoples whose lands the colony fell within. This was not an easy task as they were not a monolith – each nation, each town, had their own history with Europeans and each had their own idea about the best way for their people to move forward. I was born in Inverness, Scotland in 1718. I was a merchant in London and Spain, and from 1740-1744 I participated in Commodore George Anson’s voyage around the world. I came to America sometime between 1745 and 1748. I was appointed by South Carolina Governor Lyttleton as a captain in the provincial troops and it was then that I began working with the Cherokee to try to gain their allegiance against the French. In 1761, I had already been appointed Superintendent to the Indians. I built a nice house in Charleston, though I spent quite a bit of my time in West Florida and Pensacola as Superintendent. Just after the Revolution I changed my home base to Pensacola to be near the powerful Choctaw Nation. I died there on March 26, 1779 of consumption. After my death it took a commission of five men appointed by Governor Chester to carry out the work I had been doing.
Sources: 3, 8, 12, 15, 17, 23, 29, 31, 67