George Walton
Encyclopedia
George Walton signed the United States Declaration of Independence
as a representative of Georgia
and also served as the second Chief Executive of that state.
. Walton only served in that position from November 16, 1795, to February 20, 1796, until a successor, Josiah Tattnall
, was officially elected.
He was a political ally of Scotch-Irish General Lachlan McIntosh
and a foe of Button Gwinnett
. He and Gwinnett's political battles resulted in his expulsion from office and indictment for various criminal activities.
He was censured for his role in a duel
which resulted in Button Gwinnett's death. He became Chief Justice of Georgia, 1783–89, Governor of Georgia in 1789, and U.S. Senator in 1795.
Walton also was colonel in the army and when he was riding his horse a cannonball was fired and it hit him in the leg. With a broken leg Walton was held captive for the British army for two years. He was exchanged for a British naval officer and released, despite his having been a signer of the Declaration, which, technically, made him a traitor to the British crown.
In addition, Walton served as a trustee of Academy of Richmond County
and of the University of Georgia
.
He helped fight in the Battle of Kettle Creek. George Walton was also a Freemason and member of Solomon's Lodge
No. 1, F. & A. M. at Savannah. Solomon's Lodge No. 1, F. & A. M. was established by the renowned Freemason and General James Edward Oglethorpe on February 21, 1734. Solomon's Lodge is now the "Oldest Continuously Operating English Constituted Lodge of Freemasons in the Western Hemisphere".
on February 2, 1804, at his home, College Hill, near Augusta. He was initially buried at Rosney, home of his nephew Robert Watkins; however, he was reinterred in 1848 beneath the Signers Monument
in front of the courthouse on Greene Street in Augusta. Walton County
, east of Atlanta, is named for him. There are also at least two schools that bear his name. George Walton Comprehensive High School
is a highly-regarded public school near Marietta, Georgia
. George Walton Academy
is a private school in Monroe, Georgia
, the county seat
of Walton County. Many of his descendants have worked in the banking and legal industries in Georgia.
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
as a representative of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and also served as the second Chief Executive of that state.
Life and work
George Walton was born in Virgina. His parents died when he was an infant, resulting in his adoption by an uncle with whom he entered apprenticeship as a carpenter. Walton was a studious young man, but his uncle actively discour resignation of James JacksonJames Jackson (politician)
James "Left Eye" Jackson was an early Georgia politician of the Democratic-Republican Party. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1789 until 1791. He was also a U.S. Senator from Georgia from 1793 to 1795, and from 1801 until his death...
. Walton only served in that position from November 16, 1795, to February 20, 1796, until a successor, Josiah Tattnall
Josiah Tattnall (Senator)
Josiah Tattnall, Sr. was an American planter, soldier and politician from Savannah, Georgia. He represented Georgia in the U.S. Senate from 1796 to 1799 and was the 25th Governor of Georgia in 1801 and 1802....
, was officially elected.
He was a political ally of Scotch-Irish General Lachlan McIntosh
Lachlan McIntosh
Lachlan McIntosh was a British-born American military and political leader during the American Revolution and the early United States. In a 1777 duel, he shot dead Button Gwinnett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.-Arrival in Georgia:Lachlan McIntosh was born near Raits, Badenoch,...
and a foe of Button Gwinnett
Button Gwinnett
Button Gwinnett was an English-born American political leader who, as a representative of Georgia to the Continental Congress, was the second of the signatories on the United States Declaration of Independence...
. He and Gwinnett's political battles resulted in his expulsion from office and indictment for various criminal activities.
He was censured for his role in a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
which resulted in Button Gwinnett's death. He became Chief Justice of Georgia, 1783–89, Governor of Georgia in 1789, and U.S. Senator in 1795.
Walton also was colonel in the army and when he was riding his horse a cannonball was fired and it hit him in the leg. With a broken leg Walton was held captive for the British army for two years. He was exchanged for a British naval officer and released, despite his having been a signer of the Declaration, which, technically, made him a traitor to the British crown.
Offices held
The offices he held were:- Continental Congress (1776–78)
- Colonel of the First Georgia Militia (1778)
- Governor of Georgia (1779–80)
- U.S. Congress (1780–1781)
- Chief Justice of Georgia (1783–89)
- Governor of Georgia (1789–90)
- U.S. Senator (1795–96)
In addition, Walton served as a trustee of Academy of Richmond County
Academy of Richmond County
The Academy of Richmond County is a public high school listed on the National Register of Historic Places located in Augusta, Georgia, USA. Originally known as Richmond County Military Academy, and commonly known as Richmond Academy, it was chartered in 1783...
and of the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
.
He helped fight in the Battle of Kettle Creek. George Walton was also a Freemason and member of Solomon's Lodge
Solomon's Lodge
Solomon's Lodge, in Savannah, Georgia is a Masonic Lodge was founded in 1734 by James Oglethorpe and claims to be the oldest continuing operating lodge in America. It wasn't called Solomon's Lodge until 1776, previously being known as "The Lodge at Savannah."...
No. 1, F. & A. M. at Savannah. Solomon's Lodge No. 1, F. & A. M. was established by the renowned Freemason and General James Edward Oglethorpe on February 21, 1734. Solomon's Lodge is now the "Oldest Continuously Operating English Constituted Lodge of Freemasons in the Western Hemisphere".
Death
He died in Augusta, GeorgiaAugusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
on February 2, 1804, at his home, College Hill, near Augusta. He was initially buried at Rosney, home of his nephew Robert Watkins; however, he was reinterred in 1848 beneath the Signers Monument
Signers Monument
Signers Monument is a granite obelisk located in Augusta, Georgia, on Greene Street. Signers Monument recognizes Georgia's three signatories of the United States Declaration of Independence: George Walton, Lyman Hall, and Button Gwinnett.-Description:...
in front of the courthouse on Greene Street in Augusta. Walton County
Walton County, Georgia
Walton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2009, the population was 87,311. The county seat is Monroe.This county is a part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area ....
, east of Atlanta, is named for him. There are also at least two schools that bear his name. George Walton Comprehensive High School
George Walton Comprehensive High School
George Walton Comprehensive High School, usually referred to simply as "Walton High School," is public high school located in suburban Marietta, Georgia in the United States. It resides in eastern Cobb County and is a charter school in the Cobb County School District. It is a School of Excellence...
is a highly-regarded public school near Marietta, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
. George Walton Academy
George Walton Academy
George Walton Academy is a private school in Monroe, Georgia, USA for students in grades K4-12th grade.The school is named for Senator George Walton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence....
is a private school in Monroe, Georgia
Monroe, Georgia
Monroe is a city in Walton County, Georgia, United States. The population was 13,381 at the 2008 census. The city is the county seat of Walton County, Georgia.-Geography:Monroe is located at ....
, the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Walton County. Many of his descendants have worked in the banking and legal industries in Georgia.