Governor (1905-1909 : Broward)

Napoleon Bonaparte Broward was born on April 19, 1857 in Duval County, Florida. He moved to Hamilton County, Florida during the Civil War. He was a seaman on sailing vessels and fishing boats, a pilot on the St. Johns River, and then owner and captain of a steamboat. He owned a woodyard in Jacksonville, Florida, engaged in phosphate mining, and also engaged in the towing and wrecking business in Jacksonville, Key West, and Tampa, Florida.

Broward was elected Sheriff of Duval County in 1889, 1892, and 1896. He was a member of the Florida House of Representatives in 1901 and a member of the Florida State Board of Health, 1900-1904. As a Democrat, Broward was elected Governor in 1904 defeating Republican M. B. McFarlane. During his administration, the state-subsidized institutions of higher learning were consolidated into three colleges--The University of Florida, Florida State College for Women, and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes; the drainage of the Everglades was begun by the state; and the Choctawhatchee National Forest was created. After leaving office, Broward resided in Jacksonville and returned to his business investments. In the Democratic primary elections of 1910, he won the nomination for United States Senator. He died on October 1, 1910 before the general election was held.