John Wallace (c. 1842 – November 25, 1908) was a teacher, lawyer, political leader and judge in Florida.
Wallace served in the Union Army after being freed by federal soldiers during the American Civil War.
In April 1864 two companies of the 2nd United States Colored Infantry Regiment were transferred from Key West to Fort Myers.
The two companies participated in many actions in southwest Florida during the remainder of the year, as far north as Tampa Bay.
On leaving the service in January 1866, Wallace chose to remain in the Tallahassee area and became a protégé of Florida politician and planter William D.
[1] who gave Wallace a job teaching freed slaves at a school he set up on his plantation.
After the Convention, he was elected constable of Leon County and joined the Republican Party of Florida, and became advocate for the rights of African-Americans.
In 1877, the federal occupation ended, with profound consequences for African Americans and for the Florida Republican Party.
In 1884, he supported Independent Frank Pope in the gubernatorial race with great optimism, but Black and liberal white voters were no longer strong enough to win elections in Florida.
He was appointed a Customs House inspector in Key West for $2 per day, but was replaced in 1885, following the election of U.S. President Grover Cleveland.