George Rockingham Gilmer (April 11, 1790 – November 16, 1859) was an American politician. He served two non-consecutive terms as the 34th governor of Georgia, the first from 1829 to 1831 and the second from 1837 to 1839. He also served multiple terms in the United States House of Representatives.
Gilmer was born near Lexington, Georgia, in what is present day Oglethorpe County (Wilkes County at the time of his birth). He attended a variety of backwood schools, including Moses Waddell's famous Willington Academy. He served as first lieutenant in the Forty-third Infantry Regiment from 1813 to 1815 in the campaign against the Creek during the War of 1812. He practiced law as a profession.
Political careeredit
Gilmer's career consisted of multiple, alternating, elected positions at the state and federal level. Of the two great Georgia political factions known as the Crawford men and the Clarke men, he favored Crawford.
Gilmer was also elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1820, 1826, 1828 and 1832. Due to an oversight, he did not serve after the election in 1828, because he failed to accept the position within the legal time frame and the governor ordered a new election.
As governor of Georgia, Gilmer aggressively pursued Indian removal, laying claim to Federal assistance promised by the Compact of 1802.[1]
He initiated the prosecution of Cherokee missionary Samuel Austin Worcester for violation of a law requiring all white persons residing within the Cherokee nation to obtain a license from the governor and to swear to uphold the laws of Georgia.[2][3] Worcester was arrested in 1831 and sentenced to four years' hard labor.[4] The Cherokee Nation hired a lawyer, William Wirt, and sued the state of Georgia in Cherokee Nation v. Georgia.[5] This led to the United States Supreme Court decision Worcester v. Georgia, which struck down the Georgia statute imposing its laws on the Cherokees as violating the Treaty of Hopewell.
Backed by the Georgia militia and Governor Gilmer, the General Assembly dissolved the Cherokee government, annulled its laws, and passed an act authorizing Gilmer to take possession of the Cherokee lands in north Georgia.[6]
The Cherokee issue was hotly debated in the gubernatorial campaign of 1831.[7] Gilmer lost the election to Wilson Lumpkin. The state seized Cherokee gold mines and set up a land lottery system in 1832 to distribute Cherokee lands.[8]
During his second term as Governor of Georgia, beginning in 1837, Gilmer supported and expedited the Federal government in the final removal of Indians from Georgia.[9] This process came to be termed the Trail of Tears.
Gilmer died in 1859 in Lexington and is buried in the Presbyterian Church Cemetery in the same city.[11]Gilmer County, Georgia is named for him.[12]
Notesedit
^Gilmer, George R. (1854). Sketches of some of the first settlers of upper Georgia. New York: D. Appleton. pp. 332–441. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
^Gilmer, George R. "Letter, 1831 May 16, Milledgeville, [Georgia] to Rev[erend] Samuel A. Worcester / George R. Gilmer". State Library Cherokee Collection, The Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, TN. Presented in the Digital Library of Georgia. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
^Breyer, Stephen (August 7, 2000). "For Their Own Good". New Republic. Vol. 223, no. 6. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
^Howe, Daniel Walker (2007). What Hath God Wrought : The Transformation of America, 1815-1848. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 355. ISBN9780195078947. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
^Breyer, Stephen (Spring 2000). "The Cherokee Indians and the Supreme Court". Journal of Supreme Court History. 25 (3): 219. doi:10.1111/1059-4329.00009. S2CID 142991886.
^"Act to authorize Georgia Governor George R. Gilmer to take possession of Cherokee lands". 1830, Acts 1-165, Enrolled Acts and Resolutions, Georgia Legislature, RG 37-1-15, Georgia Archives. Digital Library of Georgia. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
^Williams, David (1995). The Georgia Gold Rush : Twenty-niners, Cherokees, and Gold Fever. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press. p. 48. ISBN978-1570030529.
^Sleeper-Smith, Susan (2015). Why You Can't Teach United States History without American Indians. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. p. 279. ISBN978-1-4696-2120-3.
^Gilmer, George R. (1854). Sketches of some of the first settlers of upper Georgia. New York: D. Appleton. pp. 503–555. Retrieved 20 Nov 2018.
^The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. I. New York, N.Y.: James T. White & Company. 1898. p. 224 – via Google Books.
^"Governor Gilmer's Home historical marker". Digital Library of Georgia. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
^Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 137.
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George Rockingham Gilmer April 11 1790 November 16 1859 was an American politician He served two non consecutive terms as the 34th governor of Georgia the first from 1829 to 1831 and the second from 1837 to 1839 He also served multiple terms in the United States House of Representatives George R Gilmer34th Governor of GeorgiaIn office November 4 1829 November 9 1831Preceded byJohn ForsythSucceeded byWilson LumpkinIn office November 8 1837 November 6 1839Preceded byWilliam SchleySucceeded byCharles J McDonaldMember of the U S House of Representatives from Georgia s at large congressional districtIn office March 4 1833 March 3 1835Preceded bynew seatSucceeded bySeaton GrantlandMember of the U S House of Representatives from Georgia s 1st congressional districtIn office October 1 1827 March 3 1829Preceded byEdward F TattnallSucceeded byredistricted to at largeMember of the U S House of Representatives from Georgia s at large congressional districtIn office March 4 1821 March 3 1823Preceded byJoel CrawfordSucceeded byGeorge CaryMember of the Georgia House of RepresentativesIn office 1818 18191824Personal detailsBornGeorge Rockingham GilmerApril 11 1790Lexington Georgia U S DiedNovember 16 1859 age 69 Lexington Georgia U S Political partyDemocratic Republican WhigProfessionSoldier Politician Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Death and legacy 4 Notes 5 External linksEarly life editGilmer was born near Lexington Georgia in what is present day Oglethorpe County Wilkes County at the time of his birth He attended a variety of backwood schools including Moses Waddell s famous Willington Academy He served as first lieutenant in the Forty third Infantry Regiment from 1813 to 1815 in the campaign against the Creek during the War of 1812 He practiced law as a profession Political career editGilmer s career consisted of multiple alternating elected positions at the state and federal level Of the two great Georgia political factions known as the Crawford men and the Clarke men he favored Crawford He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1818 1819 and 1824 Gilmer was also elected to the U S House of Representatives in 1820 1826 1828 and 1832 Due to an oversight he did not serve after the election in 1828 because he failed to accept the position within the legal time frame and the governor ordered a new election As governor of Georgia Gilmer aggressively pursued Indian removal laying claim to Federal assistance promised by the Compact of 1802 1 He initiated the prosecution of Cherokee missionary Samuel Austin Worcester for violation of a law requiring all white persons residing within the Cherokee nation to obtain a license from the governor and to swear to uphold the laws of Georgia 2 3 Worcester was arrested in 1831 and sentenced to four years hard labor 4 The Cherokee Nation hired a lawyer William Wirt and sued the state of Georgia in Cherokee Nation v Georgia 5 This led to the United States Supreme Court decision Worcester v Georgia which struck down the Georgia statute imposing its laws on the Cherokees as violating the Treaty of Hopewell Backed by the Georgia militia and Governor Gilmer the General Assembly dissolved the Cherokee government annulled its laws and passed an act authorizing Gilmer to take possession of the Cherokee lands in north Georgia 6 The Cherokee issue was hotly debated in the gubernatorial campaign of 1831 7 Gilmer lost the election to Wilson Lumpkin The state seized Cherokee gold mines and set up a land lottery system in 1832 to distribute Cherokee lands 8 During his second term as Governor of Georgia beginning in 1837 Gilmer supported and expedited the Federal government in the final removal of Indians from Georgia 9 This process came to be termed the Trail of Tears Gilmer was a presidential elector in 1836 for Hugh Lawson White and in 1840 for William Henry Harrison 10 Death and legacy editGilmer died in 1859 in Lexington and is buried in the Presbyterian Church Cemetery in the same city 11 Gilmer County Georgia is named for him 12 Notes edit Gilmer George R 1854 Sketches of some of the first settlers of upper Georgia New York D Appleton pp 332 441 Retrieved 20 Nov 2018 Gilmer George R Letter 1831 May 16 Milledgeville Georgia to Rev erend Samuel A Worcester George R Gilmer State Library Cherokee Collection The Tennessee State Library and Archives Nashville TN Presented in the Digital Library of Georgia Retrieved 12 June 2016 Breyer Stephen August 7 2000 For Their Own Good New Republic Vol 223 no 6 Retrieved 12 June 2016 Howe Daniel Walker 2007 What Hath God Wrought The Transformation of America 1815 1848 New York Oxford University Press p 355 ISBN 9780195078947 Retrieved 12 June 2016 Breyer Stephen Spring 2000 The Cherokee Indians and the Supreme Court Journal of Supreme Court History 25 3 219 doi 10 1111 1059 4329 00009 S2CID 142991886 Act to authorize Georgia Governor George R Gilmer to take possession of Cherokee lands 1830 Acts 1 165 Enrolled Acts and Resolutions Georgia Legislature RG 37 1 15 Georgia Archives Digital Library of Georgia Retrieved 12 June 2016 Williams David 1995 The Georgia Gold Rush Twenty niners Cherokees and Gold Fever Columbia University of South Carolina Press p 48 ISBN 978 1570030529 Sleeper Smith Susan 2015 Why You Can t Teach United States History without American Indians Chapel Hill University of North Carolina Press p 279 ISBN 978 1 4696 2120 3 Gilmer George R 1854 Sketches of some of the first settlers of upper Georgia New York D Appleton pp 503 555 Retrieved 20 Nov 2018 The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography Vol I New York N Y James T White amp Company 1898 p 224 via Google Books Governor Gilmer s Home historical marker Digital Library of Georgia Retrieved 12 June 2016 Gannett Henry 1905 The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States Govt Print Off pp 137 External links editUnited States Congress George R Gilmer id G000216 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2008 04 28 This Day in Georgia History November 15 Ed Jackson and Charly Pou Carl Vinson Institute of Government The University of Georgia Portrait and Bio at New Georgia EncyclopediaU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byJoel Crawford Member of the U S House of Representatives from Georgia s at large congressional districtMarch 4 1821 March 3 1823 Succeeded byGeorge CaryPreceded byEdward F Tattnall Member of the U S House of Representatives from Georgia s 1st congressional districtOctober 1 1827 March 3 1829 Succeeded byElected at largePreceded byNewly established seat from congressional apportionment Member of the U S House of Representatives from Georgia s at large congressional districtMarch 4 1833 March 3 1835 Succeeded bySeaton GrantlandPolitical officesPreceded byJohn Forsyth Governor of Georgia1829 1831 Succeeded byWilson LumpkinPreceded byWilliam Schley Governor of Georgia1837 1839 Succeeded byCharles J McDonald Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George R Gilmer amp oldid 1194398773, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
