James Oglethorpe

James Oglethorpe (1696-1785) was the founder of the Georgia Colony in Early America. Oglethorpe was born in England, seventh of nine children, and began to prepare for a military career from a young age.

In later years, he studied at Oxford, served under Prince Eugene of Savoy, and served five months in prison, for killing a man during a brawl when he returned to England.

Oglethorpe supported the rights of the colonists, and was strongly against any kind of slavery. He was noted as a philanthropist and an incredibly benevolent person.

In 1732, King George II granted a charter for creating Georgia, and subsequently named Oglethorpe as one of the 21 Trustees to govern this new colony, due to Oglethorpe’s connections, and service, in Parliament.

Oglethorpe and company landed on the site of present-day Savannah, in January 1733, and the settles arrived on February 1^st, from South Carolina.

As a humanitarian, Oglethorpe hoped to create a place in the New World, in which debtors could be rehabilitated and start a new life. However, these objectives weren't fulfilled, due to restraints on land and the fact that the majority of settlers were poor English tradesmen, and religious refugees from Europe (Catholics were banned, though). The military objectives became the top priority, due to the threat of war with Spain.

During the war, Oglethorpe showed poor military leadership, and failed several sieges, mostly due to the lack of help from South Carolina or his Native allies, despite efforts to gain their support. Despite this, Oglethorpe was considered a national hero in England, and was promoted to brigadier general by King George II.

In 1742, Oglethorpe returned to London, rose steadily through the ranks of the British Army, married Lady Elizabeth Wright, and later died on June 30^th, 1785 (Aged 88) in Essex, England. He had lived to see his infant colony become a free, and independent state.