David Levy Yulee
David Levy Yulee (1810-1886), first Senator from Florida, was born David Levy in St. Thomas in what is now the United States Virgin Islands. After studying and practicing law in St. Augustine, Levy was the delegate to United States Congress for the Florida Territory and was elected to the United States Senate when Florida was admitted as a state in 1845. In 1846, he officially changed his name to David Levy Yulee. After serving one term, Yulee was defeated for re-election in 1850.
Elected to the Senate again in 1855, he served until January 21, 1861, when he withdrew from the Senate after Florida seceded to join the Confederacy.
After the Civil War, Yulee held a number of executive positions in Florida railroads. He died in New York on October 10, 1886.
Both the town of Yulee and Levy County in the state of Florida are named for him.
