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GILMER, George Rockingham, a Representative from Georgia; born near Lexington, Wilkes (now
Oglethorpe) County, Ga., April 11, 1790; attended a classical school and an
academy at Abbeville, S.C.; taught a private school while studying law; served
as first lieutenant in the Forty-third Regiment, United States Infantry, from
1813 to 1815 in the campaign against the Creek Indians and built a fort on the
Chattahoochie River near the present city of Atlanta; resumed the study of law
and began practice in Lexington in 1818; member of the State house of
representatives in 1818, 1819, and 1824; elected to as a Republican to the
Seventeenth Congress (March 4, 1821-March 3, 1823); resumed the practice of
law; trustee of the University of Georgia at Athens 1826-1857; elected as a
Jacksonian to the Twentieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of Edward F. Tatnall and served from October 1, 1827, to March 3,
1829; reelected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-first Congress, but failing to
signify his acceptance, the Governor announced a vacancy and ordered a new
election; Governor of Georgia 1829-1831; elected as a Jacksonian to the
Twenty-third Congress (March 4, 1833-March 3, 1835); chairman, Committee on
Indian Affairs (Twenty-third Congress); presidential elector in 1836 and voted
for White and Tyler; again Governor of Georgia 1837-1839; presidential elector
on the Whig ticket in 1840; author and historian; died in Lexington, Ga.,
November 16, 1859; interment in Presbyterian Cemetery.
BibliographyCoulter, E. Merton. The Dispute over George R. Gilmers
Election to Congress in 1828.
Georgia Historical Quarterly 52 (June 1968): 159-86.
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