William Augustus Bowles

William was born in Maryland and ran off to join the British Navy at thirteen. Two years later he is at Pensacola Florida, as an ensign. He was kicked out of the British Navy and moved in with the Creek Indians. He studied their language and became friends with the chief and married his daughter. This is where he began calling himself Prince William Bowles.

After the war he went to Nassau and proposed a plan to Lord Dunmore to take over the Indian trade which was controlled by the Panton Leslie Co. He sailed up the St. Johns river with two ships with the intention of taking the Panton Leslie trading post, and setting up his own post. Instead, he sent his ships to the Gulf coast and went across land to attack the Panton Leslie post at St. Marks. He was captured and sent to Havana for trial. The ship heading for Havana was wrecked in a storm and William escaped and returned to the Indians.

William now called himself the director of the Muskogee nation. He began issuing state papers, one of which was a directive to the King of Spain to set up an independent Indian nation in Spanish territory. A reward for $45,000 was issued by the Spanish Governor of West Florida for Williams capture. In 1803 he was captured and sent to Havana and locked in Morro Castle. Still arrogant to the end, he refused to testify in his own defense or to recognize the Spanish jurisdiction. The Governor of Cuba offered to visit him and he replied" I am low indeed, but not so low as to receive a visit from the Governor General of Cuba." He then fasted until his death.