RICHARD KEITH CALL
Third Territorial Governor (March 16, 1836)
Fifth Territorial Governor (March 19,1841)

In 1839, President Van Buren removed Territorial Governor Richard Keith Call from office on the grounds of "disagreement on military policy". Van Buren then appointed Robert Reid Governor to take Call's place.

During his governorship, Call had repeatedly petitioned the Federal government for more military assistance in the removal of the Seminole and Creek Indians from Florida. Frustrated by what he considered to be a continued inadequate response, Call proposed to organize and lead an independent force.

While this was the official reason given for his removal, Call suspected that Van Buren was looking for an excuse to appoint someone who would more rigidly follow the Democratic party line. Call participated in the establishment and operations of banks and insurance companies. These actions were at odds with the reigning Democratic Party beliefs about the relationship that should exist between government debt and private enterprise.

During the next presidential election, Call canvassed in the North for the Whig candidate, William Henry Harrison. Harrison defeated Van Buren and became President of the United States.

Harrison then appointed Call to his old place as Governor of Florida.