author
George R. (George Rainsford) Fairbanks
1820–1906
A lawyer, editor, and Florida state senator, he became one of the early writers who helped preserve the history of St. Augustine and the wider state of Florida. His books and public work made him an important voice in documenting Florida's past during the 19th century.
1 Audiobook
The Spaniards in Florida Comprising the Notable Settlement of the Huguenots in 1564, and the History and Antiquities of St. Augustine, Founded A.D. 1565
by George R. (George Rainsford) Fairbanks
About the author
Born in 1820, George Rainsford Fairbanks built a wide-ranging career in law, politics, journalism, and historical writing. He lived much of his adult life in Florida and served in public roles that included Clerk of the Circuit Court and a seat in the Florida Senate.
Fairbanks is best remembered as a historian of Florida. He wrote works including History of Florida from its Discovery by Ponce de Leon, in 1512, to the Close of the Florida War, in 1842 and History and Antiquities of St. Augustine, Florida, books that helped shape how later readers understood the state's early colonial and territorial past.
His interests went well beyond writing. He was involved in newspaper publishing, fruit-growing organizations, and the founding leadership of the Florida Historical Society. Fairbanks died in 1906, leaving behind a legacy as one of the key 19th-century interpreters of Florida history.