Joseph Habersham
Encyclopedia
Joseph Habersham was an American
businessman, Georgia
politician, soldier in the Continental Army
, and Postmaster General of the United States.
Born in Savannah, Georgia
, to James Habersham
and Mary Bolton, he attended preparatory schools and Princeton College and became successful merchant and planter.
He was a member of the council of safety and the Georgia Provincial Council in 1775 and a major of a battalion of Georgia militia
men and subsequently a colonel in the 1st Georgia Regiment
of the Continental Army. He had to resign from the army after he served as Lachlan McIntosh
's second in the controversial duel that killed Button Gwinnett
.
He and his brothers, James Jr. and John
, were active in Georgia politics. Some older references state that Joseph was a delegate to the Confederation Congress
in 1785, but this may stem from confusion with his brother John, who was a delegate at that time. Joseph served as Speaker of the Georgia House in 1785 and was a member of the Georgia convention in 1788 that ratified the U.S. Constitution.
He served as mayor of Savannah from 1792 to 1793 and then was appointed Postmaster General by President
George Washington
in 1795 and served until the beginning of Thomas Jefferson
's administration in 1801. When Habersham created the office of first assistant postmaster-general in 1799, Abraham Bradley, Jr.
was appointed to the office. In 1802, Bradley named one of his sons, Joseph Habersham Bradley (later a notable Washington, D.C.
attorney), after his former superior.
Habersham died in 1815. Habersham County in Northeast Georgia, from its creation in 1818, is named in his honor, along with numerous sites and streets throughout the state.
Joseph Habersham was also a Savannah Freemason. He is recorded as a masonic member of Solomon's Lodge
No. 1, F. & A. M. at Savannah, Georgia. Solomon's Lodge No. 1, F. & A. M. at Savannah was founded by renowned statesman, philanthropist and Freemason James Edward Oglethorpe on February 21, 1734. Joseph Habersham's father James Habersham, both of his brothers, and his noted descendant, the Savannah Painter, Richard West Habersham (the intimate friend of Samuel F. B. Morse inventor of the telegraph) were all Freemasons and members of Solomon's Lodge.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, 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...
politician, soldier in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
, and Postmaster General of the United States.
Born in Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, to James Habersham
James Habersham
James Habersham was a pioneering merchant and statesman in the British North American colony of Georgia. Habersham is credited with opening the first direct trade between Savannah, Georgia and London, England. He was an influential advocate for slavery in the colonies. He served as King Secretary...
and Mary Bolton, he attended preparatory schools and Princeton College and became successful merchant and planter.
He was a member of the council of safety and the Georgia Provincial Council in 1775 and a major of a battalion of Georgia militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
men and subsequently a colonel in the 1st Georgia Regiment
1st Georgia Regiment
The 1st Georgia Regiment was raised by Lachlan McIntosh on November 4, 1775, at Savannah, Georgia for service with the Continental Army. The regiment saw action in Florida in 1777 and 1778, the Siege of Savannah and the Siege of Charleston. The regiment was captured along with the rest of the...
of the Continental Army. He had to resign from the army after he served as 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,...
's second in the controversial duel that killed 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 his brothers, James Jr. and John
John Habersham
John Habersham was an American merchant, planter, and soldier from Georgia. He was the son of loyalist official James Habersham and the younger brother of patriot leader Joseph Habersham. He served as an officer in the 1st Georgia Regiment during the American Revolutionary War. He was a delegate...
, were active in Georgia politics. Some older references state that Joseph was a delegate to the Confederation Congress
Congress of the Confederation
The Congress of the Confederation or the United States in Congress Assembled was the governing body of the United States of America that existed from March 1, 1781, to March 4, 1789. It comprised delegates appointed by the legislatures of the states. It was the immediate successor to the Second...
in 1785, but this may stem from confusion with his brother John, who was a delegate at that time. Joseph served as Speaker of the Georgia House in 1785 and was a member of the Georgia convention in 1788 that ratified the U.S. Constitution.
He served as mayor of Savannah from 1792 to 1793 and then was appointed Postmaster General by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
in 1795 and served until the beginning of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
's administration in 1801. When Habersham created the office of first assistant postmaster-general in 1799, Abraham Bradley, Jr.
Abraham Bradley, Jr.
Abraham Bradley, Jr. was an American lawyer, judge, and cartographer who was assistant postmaster general for 30 years during the earliest history of the United States Post Office Department...
was appointed to the office. In 1802, Bradley named one of his sons, Joseph Habersham Bradley (later a notable Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
attorney), after his former superior.
Habersham died in 1815. Habersham County in Northeast Georgia, from its creation in 1818, is named in his honor, along with numerous sites and streets throughout the state.
Joseph Habersham was also a Savannah Freemason. He is recorded as a masonic 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, Georgia. Solomon's Lodge No. 1, F. & A. M. at Savannah was founded by renowned statesman, philanthropist and Freemason James Edward Oglethorpe on February 21, 1734. Joseph Habersham's father James Habersham, both of his brothers, and his noted descendant, the Savannah Painter, Richard West Habersham (the intimate friend of Samuel F. B. Morse inventor of the telegraph) were all Freemasons and members of Solomon's Lodge.