Gregor McGregor

Gregor McGregor was an adventurer who had served in the Napolenic wars and Simon Bolivar's revolution in Venezuela. In 1817 he led an army of adventurers and captured Fernandina Island without firing a shot. He intended to take all of Florida from Spain, but failed to gain aid from the US government. He held the island for three months flying the Green Cross of Florida Flag. He then left his Lietenants in charge of the island, which was taken by the pirate Luis Aury. Aury raised the flag of the Republic of Mexico over the island. The pirates used the island to move slaves over the Georgia line before the US Naval squandron put an end to their reign.

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