CS Con McRae, Colin John - C.S. Delegate / Financial Agent, AL

Colin John McRae

:CSA1stNat:
McRae.jpg


Born: October 22, 1812

Birthplace: Sneedsboro (McFarlan), North Carolina

Father: John J. McRae 1778 – 1835
(Buried: McRae Family Cemetery, Jackson County, Mississippi)​

Mother: Elizabeth Mary McRae 1792 – 1867
(Buried: McRae Family Cemetery, Jackson County, Mississippi)​

Wife: None

Brother:
CS Congressman John Jones McRae 1815 – 1868
(Buried: Lord Ridge Cemetery, Belize City, Belize)​

Political Party: Democratic Party


Education:

Attended small Jesuit college in Biloxi, Mississippi​

Occupation before War:

Expanded his father's mercantile business​
One of the founders of Mississippi City​
1838: Mississippi State Representative​
Commercial Businessman in Mobile, Alabama​
Commission Businessman in Mobile, Alabama​
Railroad Promoter and land speculator​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1862: Alabama Delegate Confederate Provisional Congress​
He was concerned about the defense of Mobile​
He opposed most efforts to expand Confederate authority over Alabama's local troops.​
He supported a moderate program​
His major contribution to legislation was to introduce a bill proposing a volunteer navy of privately owned vessels to engage in privateering, this would not be approved to a year later.​
1862: Choose not to seek election to regular Confederate Congress.​
Turned his attention to establishing an arsenal in Selma, Alabama, for the manufacture of munitions.​
1863: Became Confederate States Financial agent in Europe​
Entered into the Erlanger Cotton loan​
Attempted without great success to coordinate Confederate finance abroad​
He was involved with Secretary Benjamin in a scheme to recruit Polish exiles.​
Sued for nonexistent Confederates balances, and was acquitted​

Occupation after War:

Former President Jefferson Davis tried to dissuade him from going to Central America. Davis recommended New Zealand.​
1867: Moved to Puerto de Caballos, British Honduras​
Planter Owner and Mercantile Businessman in Puerto de Caballos​
Half Owner of mahogany business along Saturday Creek​
Owner of eighteen square miles of land​

Died:
February 1877

Place of Death: Belize City, Belize

Age at time of Death: 64 years old

Burial Place: Lord Ridge Cemetery, Belize City, Belize
 
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