George Walton

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Founding Fathers
Georgewalton.jpg
George Walton
State Georgia
Religion Christian- Episcopalian [1]
Founding Documents Declaration of Independence


George Walton (1741 – February 2, 1804) is an American Founding Father. He was a carpenter, a farmer, a lawyer, Secretary of the Provincial Congress of Georgia and president of the Council of Safety. George Walton was a delegate of Georgia to the Continental Congress that signed the Declaration of Independence. He was a Colonel of the First Georgia Militia and a prisoner of war. He was elected Governor of Georgia, appointed Chief Justice, a superior court judge, and a state Senator.

Early life

George Walton was born in Cumberland County, Virginia.[2] His father died a few months after his birth and his mom died before he was seven years old.[3] He was raised by his Uncle, also named George Walton in Prince Edward County, Virginia. He would work as a carpenter for several years. At age nineteen, he would move to Georgia were his older brother John lived. His brother John Walton was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a signer of the Articles of Confederation.

George Walton was able to obtain a position in the office of Henry Young, Jr., a Savannah attorney, and studied law under his tuteledge. After completing the Bar, within two years he would hold one of the most successful legal practices in Georgia. Walton became one of the leading activists for the patriot cause in Georgia, zealously supported independence from Britain. Walton married Dorothy Camber in 1775 and they eventually had two sons.

American Revolution

At the formation of the Georgia provincial Congress, Walton was elected Secretary, and then made President of the Council of Safety.[4] His committee was appointed on that occasion to correspond with the other colonies in opposition to the British government. In 1776, Walton became a member of the Continental Congress and quickly earned the respect of his colleagues. Philadelphia was under siege by the British and Congress had been displaced to Baltimore. Walton stayed behind and created an informal war office.

In 1778, Walton was appointed a Colonel in the militia, commanding a battalion in the defense of Savannah under the leadership of General Robert Howe.[5] Walton was wounded in the thigh, fell from his horse, and was taken prisoner by the British troops. He would be held at Sunbury Prison[6] until being exchanged in a prisoner swap for the captain of the British Navy. Late in 1779, he would be appointed Chief Executive of the state[7] but that lasted only two months due to the British taking control of Georgia. In 1782, the British were driven out of Georgia and Walton attempted to rebuild his personal financial position which was destroyed by the war.

Politics

Walton fought fiercely in politics with fellow Georgian Button Gwinnett. In 1783, he was censured by the legislature for his involvement in a duel between Lachlan McIntosh and Gwinnett, which led to Gwinnett's death.[8] In 1788, Walton was nominated to be a delegate to the Constitutional Convention,[9] however he declined to attend. Instead he chose to focus on his responsibilities in his home state of Georgia.

He held several judicial posts until 1789 when he was again elected Governor. Afterwards, he was immediately appointed a superior court judge. In June 1791, Walton acquired approximately fifty acres in Augusta Township and established the farm estate Meadow Garden. In 1795, Walton would be a U.S. Senator of Georgia. He was not reelected.

Death

Walton suffered intensely from long attacks of gout, most likely contributed to his death. He died at Meadow Gardens in 1804 at the age of sixty-four. He is buried at the Signers' Monument in Augusta.

Legacy

  • George Walton Comprehensive High School, a public school in Marietta, Ga.
  • George Walton Academy, a private school in Monroe, Ga.
  • National Society Daughters of the American Revolution- George Walton Chapter, Columbus, Ga.

References

External links