Lancelot Jones was born in March of 1898 to Israel & Mozelle Jones. His father worked farms in the South Florida region. In 1897, Israel bought Porgy Key, knowing that crops would thrive on the island. He and his family cleared the land and started a thriving pineapple and lime business. He expanded his land by 250 acres by purchasing Totten Key in 1911.
Lancelot, and his older brother Arthur, took over care of the land and the family business after their father’s death. Lancelot’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to guide fishing tours. Their customers included Herbert Hoover, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon.
As development started to creep into the keys, Lancelot knew he wanted the land to remain natural. He sold his land to the National Park Service in 1968.
Learn more about Lancelot Jones and his impact on Our Story.
- National Park Service – Biscayne National Park
- BBC “Sir Lancelot Jones: The black farmer who inspired a US Park“
- The Parks Podcast (Episode 22)
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