Editing Fernandina Beach, Florida (section)

====Mexico====
Spanish pressure forced the American evacuation from the island in 1813. Spanish forces erected [[Fort San Carlos]] on the island in 1816. However, A Scottish soldier and adventurer named [[Gregor MacGregor]] with 55 musketeers seized [[Fort San Carlos (Fernandina, Florida)|Fort San Carlos]] in 1817, claiming the island on behalf of "the brethren of Mexico, Buenos Ayres, New Grenada and Venezuela",<ref name="Another View of Gregor MacGregor">[http://www.amelianow.com/winter01-gregor.htm "Another View of Gregor MacGregor"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328174504/http://www.amelianow.com/winter01-gregor.htm |date=March 28, 2009 }} in ''[http://www.amelianow.com/ Amelia Now On Line]'', Winter 2001.</ref> and raised the Green Cross of Florida flag over the Spanish [[Fort San Carlos]].<ref name="Burnett2014">{{cite book|author=Gene M. Burnett|title=Florida's Past, Vol 2: People and Events That Shaped the State|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a5hxDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT120|date=1 October 2014|publisher=Pineapple Press|isbn=978-1-56164-759-0|page=120}}</ref>
MacGregor claimed to be Brigadier General of the armies of the United Provinces of New Grenada and Venezuela (where he had successfully fought and led troops), and General-in-Chief of the armies for the two Floridas, commissioned by the Supreme Director of Mexico.<ref name="Another View of Gregor MacGregor"/>

Spanish soldiers forced MacGregor's withdrawal, but their attempt to regain complete control was foiled by American irregulars organized by Ruggles Hubbard and former Pennsylvania congressman [[Jared Irwin (Pennsylvania politician)|Jared Irwin]]. Hubbard and Irwin later joined forces with the French-born pirate [[Louis Aury]], who laid claim to the island on behalf of the Republic of Mexico. U.S. Navy forces drove Aury from the island, and President [[James Monroe]] vowed to hold Amelia Island "in trust for Spain."