Francisco Menendez (creole)

Francisco Menendez was a free black military leader serving the Spanish Crown in 18th century St. Augustine, Florida. He is first traceable as a slave in South Carolina who, like many of his contemporaries, escaped to St. Augustine, Florida. In Florida he was granted his freedom as a subject to the King of Spain and was appointed the head of the black militia based at Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose. From this base Menendez led several raids on South Carolina.

In 1740, the British army marched into Florida and overran Fort Mose but days later Spanish and Fort Mose militia members defeated the British and prevented further invasion. Fort Mose was destroyed during this bloody battle.

Menendez took to the seas on a Spanish ship to raid English vessels. During this time he was captured by the English and sold into slavery. He was then ransomed and returned to Florida. After his return to Florida he was asked to rebuild Fort Mose. The community remained until the British took control of Florida in 1763 and Menendez evacuated with the Fort Mose community to Cuba. There he established a similar community called St. Augustine of the New Florida.

Fort Mose, of which Menendez was the leader, is now recognized as a National Historic Landmark, and the site is owned by the Florida Park Service. The Fort Mose Historical Society has worked since 1995 to make the site accessible to the public and widely known as the first legally sanctioned free community of ex-slaves, and the original focal point of the first Underground Railroad.