Captain Francisco Menéndez was a free Black military leader serving the Spanish Crown in 18th-century St. Augustine, Florida.
He was one of the many enslaved Africans from British South Carolina that escaped to Spanish Florida looking for freedom in the 17th and 18th century.
Menéndez was born in the Gambia region of Africa and was of Mandinga descent. He was captured and sold by slave traders and probably was shipped to Carolina sometime between 1709 and 1711.
Like many other enslaved Blacks, Menéndez escaped his bondage and sought refuge in Spanish Florida. There, he aided in the defense of St. Augustine in 1727, earning his freedom and a reputation for leadership.
He was recognized as a subject of the King of Spain and baptized in the Catholic Church. Despite his conversion and military service, Menéndez and many of his fellow militia were still slaves. Menéndez petitioned for his freedom and he was granted unconditional freedom in 1738.
Years later, he was appointed head of the Black militia based at Fort Mose, built in 1738, and the overall leader of its resident community. From this base, Menéndez led several raids against the colony of South Carolina, and inspired further rebellion among slaves there.
In 1740, the British army marched into Florida and overran Fort Mosé. A Florida militia of Spanish, free Black, and Native American troops defeated the British and prevented further invasion. Fort Mosé was destroyed during this bloody battle.
Menéndez took to the seas on a Spanish ship to raid English vessels. During this time, he was captured by the English and sold back into slavery.
He was ransomed by the Spanish and returned to Florida. After his return to Florida, he was asked to rebuild Fort Mosé in 1752, and free Blacks returned to the community.
The British took control of East Florida in 1763 after defeating France. In that settlement, the British traded territory with Spain, taking over East Florida.
Together with most of the residents of St. Augustine and Fort Mosé, Menéndez was evacuated by the Spanish crown to Cuba. There he established a similar community called St. Augustine of the New Florida.
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