John Milledge Becomes The Most Powerful Man in Georgia
John Milledge fought in the American Revolution, served as Governor of Georgia and was President Pro Tempore of the US Senate.
John Milledge
John Milledge was a young lawyer in Georgia when the Revolutionary War broke out.
Milledge joined the local militia and served in several important early menuevers, including the capturing of Royal Governor Sir James Wright and the taking of significant gunpowder stores in Savannah.
He was also an aide-de-camp during the wildly unsuccessful attempt to invade Florida.
Attorney General
While hostilities were still underway, John was sent to the Georgia Assembly.
He also served as State Attorney General for two years during some very turbulent years in Georgia.
Milledge then went back to war, participating in the retaking of Augusta.
Congressman
In 1792, Millledge was elected to the US House of Representatives, replacing Anthony Wayne (who was kicked out because no one was sure what State he actually lived in).
John spent the better part of a decade in the House, generally associating with the Democratic-Republican Party.
He resigned only when he received election as Governor of Georgia.
Governor/Senator
During his four years as Governor, John oversaw a dramatic increase in infrastructure projects, sold off State lands to private individuals and built the University of Georgia.
Milledge invested a substantial chunk of his own money to develop the city of Athens around the University.
In 1806, John returned to the Federal Government as a US Senator.
Milledge spent three years serving as President Pro Temore, arguably the third most powerful office in the nation at the time, before retiring to his Augusta plantation.
Here are some other Governors of Georgia:
James Jackson Receives the Keys to the City of Savannah
Purveyor General of Hospitals Nathan Brownson
Richard Howly Escapes with the State Archives
Surprisingly, Milledge does not have a biography that I am aware of, but his correspondence is available with a nice summary of his life.
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Further Reading:
The Footnote in this letter tells the silly story about Anthony Wayne’s removal from Congress.
