James MacPherson

I represent James MacPherson. I represent a flicker of literary fame that once touched the British colony of West Florida. I am known as a poet, particularly for a collection of supposedly translated Gaelic epic poems called the Ossian cycle. Less well known is my time in Pensacola. Not long after I published my signature work, I went to West Florida with Governor George Johnstone as Provincial Secretary. I also held the post of Vendue Master of West Florida, which was an officially appointed public auctioneer. I was granted Lot 1 in Pensacola, was on the western side of the fort on Mansfield Street (now Zarragossa Street at Palafox). It would have fronted on the bay back then. I sat on the Council, which not only advised the governor, but also sat as the Upper House of the provincial General Assemby. Of course, I was elected Clerk. As it turned out, I decided to go back to civilization in England before the General Assembly even met for the first time. My posts were given to others, but I got to keep my salary as a pension. I’d been in West Florida all of nine months, but as I later complained, I had gone to a great deal of trouble and expense to be there at all.

Sources: 3, 6, 14, 34, 42, 113, 116