Oliver H. Prince
Encyclopedia
Oliver Hillhouse Prince (1787 October 9, 1837) was a United States Senator from Georgia
.
Born in Montville, Connecticut
in 1787, he completed preparatory studies, and moved to Georgia in 1796 with his parents, who settled in Washington
, Wilkes County
. He engaged in newspaper work, and studied law, gaining admission to the bar
in 1806 and commencing practice in Macon
. He was one of five commissioner
s who laid out the town of Macon in 1824, and was a member of the State senate
that same year. He was elected to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Thomas W. Cobb
and served from November 7, 1828 to March 3, 1829 as a Jacksonian Democrat. He was later an author and editor, and presided over the first railroad convention in Georgia, and was one of the first stockholders and directors of the Georgia Railroad. He abandoned the practice of law to become editor of the Georgia Journal in 1830, and retired to Athens, Georgia
in 1835.
Prince perished in the wreck of the packet ship
SS Home
near Ocracoke Inlet
, North Carolina
on October 9, 1837, and the remains were never recovered.
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...
.
Born in Montville, Connecticut
Montville, Connecticut
Montville is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 18,546 at the 2000 census and 19,571 at the 2010 census....
in 1787, he completed preparatory studies, and moved to Georgia in 1796 with his parents, who settled in Washington
Washington, Georgia
Washington is a city in Wilkes County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,295 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Wilkes County...
, Wilkes County
Wilkes County, Georgia
Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 10,687. The 2007 Census estimate shows a population of 10,262. The county seat is the city of Washington. Referred to as "Washington-Wilkes", the county seat and county are commonly treated as a...
. He engaged in newspaper work, and studied law, gaining admission to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1806 and commencing practice in Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
. He was one of five commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
s who laid out the town of Macon in 1824, and was a member of the State senate
Georgia Senate
The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly .-Composition:According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members...
that same year. He was elected to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Thomas W. Cobb
Thomas W. Cobb
Thomas Willis Cobb was a United States Representative and Senator from Georgia.-Biography:Born in Columbia County, Georgia, he pursued preparatory studies, and studied law. He was admitted to the bar and practiced in Lexington, Georgia...
and served from November 7, 1828 to March 3, 1829 as a Jacksonian Democrat. He was later an author and editor, and presided over the first railroad convention in Georgia, and was one of the first stockholders and directors of the Georgia Railroad. He abandoned the practice of law to become editor of the Georgia Journal in 1830, and retired to Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
in 1835.
Prince perished in the wreck of the packet ship
Packet ship
A "packet ship" was originally a vessel employed to carry post office mail packets to and from British embassies, colonies and outposts. In sea transport, a packet service is a regular, scheduled service, carrying freight and passengers...
SS Home
SS Home
The SS Home was a steam packet ship built in 1836 and sunk in 1837 and commanded by Captain Carleton White.The Home was built for Mr. James B. Allaire, of New York City, a ship of 537 tons , 220 feet long and with a beam of 22 feet , propelled by two paddle-wheels mounted amidship...
near Ocracoke Inlet
Ocracoke Inlet
Ocracoke Inlet is an estuary located in the Outer Banks, North Carolina, United States that separates Ocracoke Island and Portsmouth Island. It connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pamlico Sound. It is the southern terminus of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It is the northern terminus of the...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
on October 9, 1837, and the remains were never recovered.
Further reading
- Donald E. Wilkes, Jr., The Eponymous Mr. Prince, Parts 1 and 2 (2000).
- Donald E. Wilkes, Jr. "Oliver H. Prince (1782-1837)". New Georgia Encyclopedia (May 15, 2009)