1857 – Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, Florida’s 19th governor was born on this date in Duval County. Broward had an interesting career prior to being governor, first working on steamboats in and around Jacksonville eventually becoming one of the best captains in the region. He was appointed sheriff of Duval County and gained influen...ce among the city’s politicians and other powerful individuals. Broward was elected to the State Legislature in 1900 and ran for governor in 1904. During his time in office, Broward championed the draining of the Everglades for agricultural usage and helped bolster the state’s university system. He lost reelection in 1908 but instead ran for the U.S. Senate and won in 1910 but died before taking office.