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Georgia is ultimately established
James Oglethorpe founded Georgia as a refuge for debtors. England government wanted to use the colony as a military outpost against Spanish Florida to the South and French Louisiana to the west. -
People Start to settle in Georgia
Oglethorpe and more than 100 colonists unloaded their ship, the Anne, and settled in present day Savannah. -
John Wesley and his brother Charles Wesley sailed from England for Georgia
John Wesley and his brother Charles Wesley sailed from England for Georgia, Charles to serve as secretary to James Oglethorpe, while John was to be a minister to the Georgia colonists. John Wesley’s time in Georgia was an unhappy one, as he wished to be a missionary to the Indians, plus he fell in love with a young woman who chose to marry another man. -
Fort Frederica was built on St. Simons Island.
John Wesley arrived in Georgia to serve as minister to the colonists; his brother Charles arrived at Frederica to serve as James Oglethorpe‘s secretary. The Scot Highlanders who had sailed the previous year arrived in Georgia. After the building of Frederica, James Oglethorpe returned to England to report to the Georgia Trustees in person. -
James Oglethorpe arrived in England in January to attempt to get money for the Fort Frederica
He was successful in gaining funds and 600 soldiers, and while in England was named “Colonel of the Regiment of Foot for the Defense of His Majesty’s Plantations in America.” He sailed back to Georgia in July. -
The battle of Bloody Marsh
The major Georgia-related event of the war with Spain occurred on July 7 - the Battle of Bloody Marsh - where James Oglethorpe and a group of men, largely Scot Highlanders, repulsed an attempted invasion of St. Simons Island by Spanish forces from St. Augustine. -
The French and Indian War began
The French and Indian War (as it was called in America) began with skirmishes between American (led by George Washington) and French forces on the Virginia frontier. This war was called the Seven Years’ War in Europe, and was not officially declared until 1756, but the fighting started in 1754. This war and its aftermath would have a noticeable effect on Georgia’s borders, and relations with the Indians. -
John Reynolds had been appointed as royal governor
John Reynolds had been appointed as royal governor - Georgia’s first - in 1754. But he was frequently at odds with the General Assembly, and did not get along with many colonists. This led to a number of complaints about him with the British government. In 1756 he was recalled to England to respond to the complaints, though he did not yet resign his position. -
The Creek Indians signed the Treaty of Savannah
The Creek Indians signed the Treaty of Savannah, which confirmed previous treaties, and also ceded to Georgia three islands - St. Catherine’s, Ossabaw, and Sapelo - as well as their reserve above Savannah. However the Creeks had ceded these islands to Mary Musgrove ten years earlier (see 1747), and it would be three years before a court in London would resolve the rival claims. -
For more on the Stamp Act in Georgia, see the Digital Library of Georgia.
A British official charged with administering the Stamp Act arrived in Georgia. He was escorted under armed guard to the governor’s house, but he left after two weeks. Georgia was the only colony in which any revenue was collected from the Stamp Act, when merchants agreed to pay the tax because the Savannah harbor was clogged with more than sixty ships. Royal governor James Wright wrote a letter to the British Board of Trade regarding the difficulties involved with the Stamp Act. -
Georgia Legislature passed an act
Because of continued westward expansion, the Georgia Legislature passes an act in 1804 to move the capitol nearer to the geographic center of the state. A site was chosen on the Oconee River for a new capital to be named "Milledgeville". A brick Gothic style Capital building was erected at a cost of $80,000. -
The Sixth Georgia Land Lottery
The Sixth Georgia Land Lottery, sometimes called the Cherokee Georgia lottery, is authorized by the General Assembly. The major difference between this lottery and the preceding five lotteries is that Georgia did not have a claim to the land it was giving away: The Cherokee had never ceded it. -
First full college for women
Georgia was the site of the first full college for women in the country, the Georgia Female College (now renamed Wesleyan College), chartered in 1836 and opened 3 years later in Macon -
Nashville Convention begins
The Southern Convention, more commonly called the Nashville Convention begins. Lasting 9 days, the convention had been called to unite slaveholders against Northern intrusion, including possible secession. Moderate Democrats prevailed and established a "wait and see" attitude, taking no action. -
The American Civil War
The outbreak of the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, a known opponent of slavery, was elected president and in 1861 the South Secedes. The initial Secession of South Carolina was followed by the secession of Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. These eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War. -
Georgia started to suffer from the war
Georgia did not suffer direct devastation from the war until 1864 when General William Tecumseh Sherman advanced though Northern Georgia, besieged and captured Atlanta, and then pushed on to Savannah on his famous March to the Sea. The Legislature adjourned amid great confusion, later reconvening for a brief period in Macon -
federal government abandoned its efforts to force reconstruction programs
By the mid 1870'ss, the federal government abandoned its efforts to force reconstruction programs upon Georgia. The Democratic Party became solidly entrenched as the dominant political force in the state. The only serious challenge was a brief surge of activity by the Populist Party under the leadership of Tom Watson. -
John Carson was born
"Fiddlin'" John Carson born on a farm north of Smyrna (Cobb County), Georgia. Sometimes given as March 23, 1868 in Blue Ridge (Fannin County) Georgia. Carson probably created this erroneous birthdate and birthplace himself to appear older and appeal to the displaced Appalachian farmers who made up his core audience -
Henry Grady is on the way to the Atlanta passenger depot to catch a train to Augusta
Having given up on a journalism career in Atlanta, Henry Grady is on the way to the Atlanta passenger depot to catch a train to Augusta and a waiting job. He runs into Evan Howell, who had just purchased a major interest in the Atlanta Constitution. Howell offers Grady a job on the spot and before the train leaves, Grady and Howell are headed for the offices of the Constitution. One of Grady's first hires is Joel Chandler Harris. -
Joseph LeConte dies
Joseph LeConte, founding member of the Sierra Club, dies in Yosemite Valley, California. Two mountains are named in his honor, Mount LeConte on the North Carolina/Tennessee border and Mount LeConte in Yosemite. -
President Theodore Roosevelt visits Roswell
President Theodore Roosevelt visits Roswell (Roswell, Georgia history) and Atlanta (Atlanta, Georgia history). The President's train stopped at Chamblee (Roswell Station), where he boarded the train to Roswell. He crossed the Chattahoochee River and visited both Bulloch Hall and Roswell Square, where he made brief comments. Roosevelt then had lunch at the Piedmont Driving Club (now Piedmont Park) and spoke at Georgia Tech before leaving for Jacksonville, Florida later that evening. -
Hoke Smith was elected
Four days of rioting in Atlanta ensue after the election of Hoke Smith, who ran on a platform of denying blacks the right to vote. Whites not only started the riots, but tried to lay blame on blacks. Officially the death toll is 12, but the actual number was probably significantly higher. -
Terminal Block Fire
Fire breaks out at the Schlesinger Candy Factory near Terminal Station in Atlanta destroys a block of 30 buildings in downtown Atlanta including the Terminal Hotel. Buildings between Mitchell, Nelson, South Forsyth and Madison (now Spring St.) are a complete loss. Estimated property damage exceeds $1.2 million. -
The Birmingham and Atlantic Railroad
The Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Railroad (AB &A) inaugurates service to Atlanta and is welcomed with a speech by Asa Chandler. It is the last railroad to come into Atlanta. Renamed A. B. & C. in 1927 it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line in 1947. -
Atlanta becomes the third city
Atlanta becomes the third city to host an N. A. A. M. sanctioned automobile exhibition. Opened by Chamber of Commerce president Asa Candler, the meeting was attended by Henry Ford, Ransom E. Olds, Charles E. Duryea, Benjamin Briscoe and John N. Willys, each of whom will speak during the weeklong affair. -
Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor visit Warm Springs
At the urging of owner George Foster Peabody, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor visit Warm Springs, Georgia for the first time. Peabody believes that the warm, mineral-laden water will benefit the polio-stricken politician. -
Franklin Delano Roosevelt returns to Warm Springs
Franklin Delano Roosevelt returns to Warm Springs, Georgia to greet the first polio patients who arrive at the Warm Springs Foundation. He worked with them, helping to establish an exercise program and share his experiences. The patients referred to him as "Dr. Roosevelt." -
Richard B. Russell, Jr defeats Charles Crisp
Richard B. Russell, Jr., then governor of Georgia, defeats Charles Crisp of Americus, a member of the U. S. House of Representatives, for U. S. Senate. Final totals: 162,745 votes for Russell, 119,193 for Crisp (296 county units to 114 for Crisp). Russell will remain a senator for almost 40 years. -
Georgia votes overwhelmingly for Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt for President
Georgia votes overwhelmingly for Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt for President. Roosevelt's frequent visits to Warm Springs, plus Eleanor's lineage had made him a popular figure in the state. Also elected to the U. S. House were Carl Vinson, Eugene Cox, Homer C. Parker, Malcolm Tarver, John Wood, Braswell D. Deen, Bryant T. Castellow, Emmett M. Owens and Robert Ramspeck. -
A recruit falls ill at Fort Dix
A recruit falls ill at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and dies the following day. Under orders from Gerald Ford, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta launches an inoculation project against "swine flu," the disease responsible for 20 million deaths in 1918-1919.
