WHITE SPRINGS, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday unveiled a statue honoring Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton County, part of Florida’s preparations for the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary in 2026.
The statue, installed in the town of White Springs along the Suwannee River, is part of a statewide initiative to place monuments recognizing Founding Fathers in Florida counties that bear their names.
During the unveiling, DeSantis highlighted Hamilton’s role in the nation’s founding, noting his service in the American Revolution, his work as a principal author of The Federalist Papers, and his tenure as the first U.S. secretary of the treasury under George Washington.
Hamilton played a prominent role during the Revolutionary War, first serving with the New York militia in 1775 before becoming an artillery officer. Washington later appointed him as aide-de-camp in 1777, making Hamilton one of the general’s closest advisers during the conflict. Hamilton later commanded American forces during the decisive 1781 Battle of Yorktown, which helped secure independence for the United States.
After the war, Hamilton emerged as a leading advocate for a stronger federal government. He authored 51 of the 85 essays in The Federalist Papers, a series of writings that argued for ratification of the U.S. Constitution. As treasury secretary, Hamilton established key elements of the early American financial system, including plans to stabilize national credit and create a national banking structure. He also founded the Revenue Cutter Service, a predecessor to today’s United States Coast Guard.
State officials also noted Hamilton’s historical ties to Florida. As a congressional delegate from New York, Hamilton advocated for American access to the Mississippi River and supported acquiring Florida from Spain. His diplomatic influence helped shape Pinckney’s Treaty, which established the boundary between Spanish Florida and the United States along what is now the Florida–Georgia line.
Florida later became a U.S. territory through the Adams-Onís Treaty. In the years that followed, President James Monroe appointed Hamilton’s son, Alexander Hamilton Jr., as U.S. district attorney for East Florida. Hamilton County was formally established in 1827 and named in honor of the founding father.
The statue unveiling is part of Florida’s broader participation in the national semiquincentennial observance marking the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. State officials say the program will include events, exhibits, and historical commemorations across Florida through the initiative known as America 250 Florida.
