David Levy Yulee

Biography

David Levy Yulee, born in 1810, was a pioneering statesman and railroad developer who became the first Jewish member of the United States Senate. He championed Florida’s economic development and invested in railroads that aimed to connect the Southeast, demonstrating a forward-looking vision for transportation and trade.

Yulee died in 1886 and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, where his determination to build bridges—both literal and political—continues to be remembered with respect.