Cary A. Hardee


Cary Augustus Hardee was an educator, lawyer, legislator, and banker who served as the 23rd Governor of Florida. He was a lawyer, state attorney, member of the Florida House of Representatives, and speaker of the Florida House before being elected governor. He took office on January 4, 1921.
Born in Taylor County, Florida, he spent most of his life in Live Oak, Florida.
During his term, the state adopted constitutional amendments that reapportioned the legislature and prohibited the levying of state income and inheritance taxes. He also halted the practice of leasing state prisoners out to private businesses. During his term as governor electrocution became a legal method of execution in Florida.
Hardee left office on January 6, 1925. He ran for governor again in 1932, but lost the Democratic primary. He was a banker in Live Oak until his death in 1957.
Hardee County, Florida is named in his honor.

Electoral history