Peter Early
Encyclopedia
Peter Early was an American
lawyer, jurist and politician.
He was born near Madison, Virginia
in 1773, the son of Joel Early and Lucy Smith. His cousin, Jubal Early, was the grandfather of Confederate General Jubal Anderson Early
(1816–1894). Peter Early graduated from the Lexington Academy (current-day Washington and Lee University
). He later graduated from Princeton College in 1792. His family moved to Wilkes County, Georgia
that same year; however, Peter Early was studying law with Jared Ingersoll
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. After finishing his legal studies, Early joined his family in Wilkes County, married Ann Adams Smith in 1793 and began his law practice in Washington, Georgia
, in 1796.
Early was elected as a Representative
from Georgia to the 8th United States Congress
to serve the remainder of the term left vacant by the resignation of John Milledge, and he was reelected to the 9th Congress
. During his congressional service, Early was one of the managers of the prosecution in the impeachment
trials against John Pickering
, New Hampshire United States District Court judge
, in January 1804 and Samuel Chase
, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, in December of that same year. Early did not seek reelection in 1806 for the 10th Congress
.
After his congressional service, Early was elected by the Georgia General Assembly
as judge of the Superior Court of the Ocmulgee Circuit and presided over that court from 1807 until 1813. The respect and popularity he gained from his service on that bench propelled him to a successful campaign to be elected the 28th Governor of Georgia in 1813. He served one term which lasted through 1815 during which Early was instrumental in committing money on several occasions from the state treasury to help raise and supply additional troops from Georgia to the American
military forces during the later half of the War of 1812
.
Early moved back to Greene County, Georgia
after his gubernatorial term, and he was elected to the Georgia Senate
to represent his home county. During his term in this body, he died on August 15, 1817, at his summer home near Scull Shoals in Greene County and was buried on the west bank of the Oconee River
near his home, Fontenoy Plantation, with a simple monument to mark his gravesite; however, his family reinterred his body in the Greensboro City Cemetery in 1914. Early County, Georgia
was named in his honor in 1818.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, jurist and politician.
He was born near Madison, Virginia
Madison, Virginia
Madison is a town in Madison County, Virginia, United States. The population was 210 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Madison County.-Geography:Madison is located at ....
in 1773, the son of Joel Early and Lucy Smith. His cousin, Jubal Early, was the grandfather of Confederate General Jubal Anderson Early
Jubal Anderson Early
Jubal Anderson Early was a lawyer and Confederate general in the American Civil War. He served under Stonewall Jackson and then Robert E. Lee for almost the entire war, rising from regimental command to lieutenant general and the command of an infantry corps in the Army of Northern Virginia...
(1816–1894). Peter Early graduated from the Lexington Academy (current-day Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
). He later graduated from Princeton College in 1792. His family moved to Wilkes County, Georgia
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...
that same year; however, Peter Early was studying law with Jared Ingersoll
Jared Ingersoll
Jared Ingersoll was an early American lawyer and statesman from Philadelphia.He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and signed the U.S. Constitution for Pennsylvania...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. After finishing his legal studies, Early joined his family in Wilkes County, married Ann Adams Smith in 1793 and began his law practice in Washington, Georgia
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...
, in 1796.
Early was elected as a Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Georgia to the 8th United States Congress
8th United States Congress
- Senate :* President: Aaron Burr * President pro tempore: John Brown , October 17, 1803 – February 26, 1804** Jesse Franklin , March 10, 1804 – November 4, 1804** Joseph Anderson , January 15, 1805 – December 1, 1805- House of Representatives :...
to serve the remainder of the term left vacant by the resignation of John Milledge, and he was reelected to the 9th Congress
9th United States Congress
- Senate :* President: George Clinton * President pro tempore: Samuel Smith - House of Representatives :* Speaker: Nathaniel Macon -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
. During his congressional service, Early was one of the managers of the prosecution in the impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
trials against John Pickering
John Pickering (judge)
John Pickering served as Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Superior Court of Judicature and as Judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire...
, New Hampshire United States District Court judge
United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire
The United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of New Hampshire. The Warren B. Rudman U.S...
, in January 1804 and Samuel Chase
Samuel Chase
Samuel Chase was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and earlier was a signatory to the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Maryland. Early in life, Chase was a "firebrand" states-righter and revolutionary...
, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, in December of that same year. Early did not seek reelection in 1806 for the 10th Congress
10th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :- Senate :*President: George Clinton *President pro tempore: Samuel Smith , elected April 16, 1808** Stephen R. Bradley , elected December 28, 1808** John Milledge , elected January 30, 1809...
.
After his congressional service, Early was elected by the Georgia General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
as judge of the Superior Court of the Ocmulgee Circuit and presided over that court from 1807 until 1813. The respect and popularity he gained from his service on that bench propelled him to a successful campaign to be elected the 28th Governor of Georgia in 1813. He served one term which lasted through 1815 during which Early was instrumental in committing money on several occasions from the state treasury to help raise and supply additional troops from Georgia to the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military forces during the later half of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
Early moved back to Greene County, Georgia
Greene County, Georgia
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 3, 1786. As of 2000, the population is 14,406. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 15,662. The county seat is Greensboro...
after his gubernatorial term, and he was elected to the Georgia 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...
to represent his home county. During his term in this body, he died on August 15, 1817, at his summer home near Scull Shoals in Greene County and was buried on the west bank of the Oconee River
Oconee River
The Oconee River is a river which has its origin in Hall County, Georgia, and terminates where it joins the Ocmulgee River to form the Altamaha River near Lumber City at the borders of Montgomery County, Wheeler County, and Jeff Davis County. South of Athens, two forks, known as the North Oconee...
near his home, Fontenoy Plantation, with a simple monument to mark his gravesite; however, his family reinterred his body in the Greensboro City Cemetery in 1914. Early County, Georgia
Early County, Georgia
Early County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818 and was named for Peter Early. As of 2010, the population is 11,008. The county seat is Blakely.-Geography:...
was named in his honor in 1818.