José María Callava

José María Callava was the final governor of Spanish West Florida, serving from February 1819 to the time of Spain's transfer of the territory to the United States on 17 July 1821. Callava was an officer in the Spanish military who had been rapidly promoted due to his service in the Peninsular War — the Battle of Almonacid in particular, for which he was knighted into the Royal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild in 1811. He became a colonel and governor in February 1819, before he reached the age of 40.

James Parton's Life of Andrew Jackson describes Callava thus: He was a Castilian, of a race akin to the Saxon, of light complexion, a handsome, well-grown man, of dignified presence and refined manners. Jackson sent Captain Francis Dade to apprehend Callava.

Once the records were in American hands, Jackson released Callava. Callava blamed the dispute, in part, on a lack of translators to aid in communication between himself and the Americans. Callava also published in Havana a manifesto outlining the "outrages and vexations" committed against him by Jackson.