Tom 12 (2023): Zeszyt 2 (September 2023)

In 1859, Key West found itself transfixed by a sensational criminal trial. Styled United States v. Carcer, Eloy, and Davis, and presided over by William Marvin, the island's legendary federal judge, the case involved a mutiny-murder aboard the slave ship Enterprise. Although famous in its day, the tale has been all but forgotten due to the Great Key West Fire of 1886, which destroyed nearly every record of the affair.

In 1861, the Confederate States of America authorized the establishment of a “Court of Admiralty and Maritime Jurisdiction” at Key West. Although a judge was appointed, the court never sat because the island remained in Union hands throughout the Civil War. After first describing the court's creation and staffing, this article highlights the various procedural and practical problems the court would have faced if it had been able to operate.

In 1845, lawyer-turned-physician Daniel W. Whitehurst, originally from Virginia, moved to Key West. By the time of his death in 1872, Whitehurst had served as the city's mayor, state senator, and captain of its rebel guard. Nevertheless, Whitehurst now is an unknown figure. Buried with him is his cause of death, which may have been suicide.

This essay provides a sketch of William Marvin's first decade in Key West (1835–45). In this period, Marvin, originally from New York, served as the territory's U.S. district attorney (1835–39) and its second territorial judge (1839–45). It was during this time that Marvin became acquainted with the city's wrecking industry and began to develop his interest in salvage law.

This essay explores the salvage decisions rendered by William Marvin during his time as a judge in Key West (1839–45; 1847–63). It also discusses his celebrated treatise on salvage law (1858), which cemented his reputation as one of America's leading authorities on maritime law. Lastly, it recounts how Marvin superintended the city's notorious wrecking industry.

This essay describes the prize law of the Confederate States of America. Due to the Union's blockade of the South's coastline, Confederate judges heard very few prize cases. But when they did, they closely hewed to the prize law of the United States.

This essay describes the work of Spain's consuls in Key West between 1829 and 1870. Although Spain sold Florida to the United States in 1821, it retained a keen interest in Key West (primarily due to the city's proximity to Cuba). As their country's “eyes and ears,” Spain's consuls were expected to keep their superiors in Madrid briefed on the latest developments, a task they pursued with vigor.

This essay describes the efforts of the Confederate States of America to convince Great Britain to support its secession from the United States. Although the South's leaders were confident that Britain's need for cotton would lead it to become an ally, numerous factors—including the British public's aversion to slavery—contributed to the country remaining neutral.

This bibliography identifies and describes 75 works that focus on Key West during its first 50 years (1821–71) as a U.S. possession. General, legal, and popular culture materials are included.

This review discusses two recent books that focus on Key West in the Civil War. Employing vastly different approaches, both works will have their share of admirers and detractors. Given the complexity of Key West's role in the Civil War, however, much fertile ground remains for future researchers.