The post of Adjutant General was first created by the Legislative Council of the Territory on February 1, 1832 (Ch. 695, Laws) and continued into statehood (Art. VII, Sec. 2, 1838 Constitution; Art. X, Sec. 2, 1968 Constitution). The Adjutant General is appointed by the Governor and serves as his chief of staff (in the Governor's role as Commander-in-Chief). During the nineteenth century, the Adjutant General's duties included supervision of the state prison and quarantine of the coast (Art. 7, Sec. 8, 1868 Constitution). Under the 1868 Constitution, the Adjutant General was a member of the Cabinet and as such, was part of the Board of Commissioners of State Institutions. Under the 1885 Constitution, the Adjutant General was excluded from the Cabinet. The Adjutant General also sat on the State Board of Pensions prior to 1915. In 1921, the Military Department was created and headed by the Adjutant General. In 1973, the name was changed to the Dept. of Military Affairs. The Adjutant General controls all Florida units of the National Guard, supervises all arms, troops, branches, and stores of the Guard, and transports and subsists any armed forces required by the state to maintain law and order.
From the description of Patrick Houston order book, 1895-1901. (Florida State Archive). WorldCat record id: 32413472
