Hamlin Valentine Snell

Hamlin Valentine Snell (February 14, 1810 – January 29, 1886) was an American lawyer and politician in Florida. He served as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, was president of the Florida State Senate, and was the eighth mayor of Tampa, Florida.

He was born in Savannah, Georgia.[1] He was William H. Whitaker's half-brother.[2]

Snell originally moved to Florida in the late 1830s. In 1840 he'd be elected as Calhoun County's representative to the Territorial Legislative Council. He'd move once more again to what is today Sarasota in 1842.[3]

Snell would move to Tampa sometime in late 1857. He would become the Port of Tampa's deputy collector in June 1858. He'd serve as the Mayor of Tampa from February 1, 1860, until February 2, 1861.[1][3] As mayor, he celebrated the start of the American Civil War. Martial law would be declared in Tampa on April 21, 1861 by the 20th Florida Regiment after it had taken control of Fort Brooke. Close to three weeks after martial law was declared, he would flee Tampa like many other citizens of the city at the time.[1] He would marry Mary Beville in 1867.[4] Local artist Ruth Finney Horney would paint a portrait of him.[5]

He would die on January 29, 1886 in Gainesville, Florida.[1]