Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Great Britain

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010

1. Great Britain Marker

Inscription. As early as the 1730's, a few British traders lived among the Chickasaw in this area, but Great Britain's brief ascendancy on the Lower Mississippi did not began until 1763. In that year, the British defeated France in the Seven Years' War and took control of French lands east of the river. The southern part of this area, which included Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Natchez, Mississippi, became British West Florida. To protect this holding, Britain erected Fort Bute on Manchac bend, 115 miles north of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Hoping to control their increasingly independent-minded American colonists, the British outlawed any settlements west of the Allegheny Mountains. With the lower river above Natchez controlled by their fierce Chickasaw allies, Britain did not find it necessary to establish any military post in that region.

The American Revolution and the capture of British West Florida by Spain in 1779 ended their nominal 16-year control of the lower river. Britain's attempt to establish a strategic position in Louisiana at the close of the war of 1812 was crushed by Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.

Erected by Mud Island River Park.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers • War of 1812 • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #07 Andrew Jackson series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1763.

Location. 35° 8.656′ N, 90° 3.559′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It can be reached from Island Road one mile A.W. Willis Avenue. Marker is at the south end of Mud Island under the British flag. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 125 North Front Street, Memphis TN 38103, United

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States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: France (here, next to this marker); North Carolina (here, next to this marker); Tennessee (here, next to this marker); Confederate States of America (a few steps from this marker); Spain (a few steps from this marker); Head of Passes/Pilottown, Louisiana (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Venice Louisiana/Fort Jackson, Louisiana/Fort St. Phillip (about 700 feet away); Ostrica Lock/Buras, Louisiana/Empire Lock/Nairn, Louisiana (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Also see . . . Mud Island River Park.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010

2. Great Britain Marker

France, Spain, North Carolina, Tennessee, US, Confederate States, Great Britain Flags

(Submitted on March 20, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010

3. France, Spain, North Carolina, Tennessee, US, Confederate States, Great Britain Flags

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 609 times since then and 12 times this year. Last updated on May 3, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 20, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.