James OglethorpeJames Oglethorpe

Founder of GeorgiaFounder of Georgia

James OglethorpeJames Oglethorpe• Born Dec 22, 1696 Born Dec 22, 1696

in London, Englandin London, England• Feb 1, 1733 Feb 1, 1733

Oglethorpe and Oglethorpe and fellow settlers fellow settlers arrive at the site of arrive at the site of modern day modern day Savannah.Savannah.

• Died June 30, 1785 Died June 30, 1785 in Cranham Hall, in Cranham Hall, EnglandEngland

Life in EnglandLife in England

• In 1714, In 1714, Oglethorpe was Oglethorpe was admitted to Corpus admitted to Corpus Christi College at Christi College at Oxford University.Oxford University.

• 1722- He ran for 1722- He ran for Parliament and Parliament and won. He occupied won. He occupied a seat in the House a seat in the House of Commons.of Commons.

Need for ChangeNeed for Change

• In 1729 Oglethorpe’s life changed.In 1729 Oglethorpe’s life changed.• A close friend of his, Robert Castell, was A close friend of his, Robert Castell, was

put in London’s Fleet Prison because of put in London’s Fleet Prison because of his debts. Prisoners were required to pay his debts. Prisoners were required to pay fees for decent room and board, but his fees for decent room and board, but his friend was unable to pay.friend was unable to pay.

• Castell died while in prison from a Castell died while in prison from a disease. This led Oglethorpe to launch a disease. This led Oglethorpe to launch a national campaign to reform England’s national campaign to reform England’s prisons.prisons.

PrisonsPrisons

• After Oglethorpe investigated the prisons, After Oglethorpe investigated the prisons, steps were taken to reform the prisons. steps were taken to reform the prisons.

• However, prison reform did not change However, prison reform did not change that debtors were put in jail for the lack of that debtors were put in jail for the lack of money.money.

• Oglethorpe with the help of John Lord Oglethorpe with the help of John Lord Viscount Percival and others started to Viscount Percival and others started to explore the chances of creating a new explore the chances of creating a new colony in America.colony in America.

Georgia’s FoundingGeorgia’s Founding

• In 1732, King George In 1732, King George II granted Oglethorpe II granted Oglethorpe a charter to colonize a charter to colonize land located south of land located south of the South Carolina the South Carolina colony.colony.

• However, Spain and However, Spain and Britain both claimed Britain both claimed the land, nut neither the land, nut neither had people living had people living there at the time.there at the time.

First SettlementFirst Settlement

• Oglethorpe arrived on Savannah’s coast on Oglethorpe arrived on Savannah’s coast on February 12, 1733 and after receiving February 12, 1733 and after receiving permission from Tomochichi, he built the first permission from Tomochichi, he built the first settlement of Savannah.settlement of Savannah.

• He established good relations with Native He established good relations with Native Americans and bought the land for Savannah Americans and bought the land for Savannah from them.from them.

• Oglethorpe named the new colony after King Oglethorpe named the new colony after King George II.George II.

• Oglethorpe was in Georgia from 1733-1736. Oglethorpe was in Georgia from 1733-1736. He was give the rank of colonel and an army He was give the rank of colonel and an army to defend the colony from Spain.to defend the colony from Spain.

Invasion of the New Invasion of the New ColonyColony

• War broke out between Spain and Britain in War broke out between Spain and Britain in 1739.1739.

• Oglethorpe planned to protect Georgia from the Oglethorpe planned to protect Georgia from the Spanish forces in Florida, so he led an attack on Spanish forces in Florida, so he led an attack on St. Augustine, but failed to capture it.St. Augustine, but failed to capture it.

• In 1742, Spanish forces retaliate and In 1742, Spanish forces retaliate and Oglethorpe fought back a Spanish invasion on Oglethorpe fought back a Spanish invasion on Fort Federica. This battle came to be known as Fort Federica. This battle came to be known as the Battle of Bloody Marsh.the Battle of Bloody Marsh.

• Oglethorpe was then promoted to brigadier Oglethorpe was then promoted to brigadier general in the British Army.general in the British Army.

• Oglethorpe then returned to England in 1743.Oglethorpe then returned to England in 1743.

Return to BritainReturn to Britain

• When Oglethorpe returned to Britain he When Oglethorpe returned to Britain he again served in Parliament for 32 years, again served in Parliament for 32 years, married Elizabeth Wright in September married Elizabeth Wright in September 1744, and settled at Cranham Hall.1744, and settled at Cranham Hall.

• In 1753 Georgia’s charter expired and In 1753 Georgia’s charter expired and control switched to the king.control switched to the king.

• Oglethorpe enjoyed seeing his colony Oglethorpe enjoyed seeing his colony become part of the United States of become part of the United States of America in 1776.America in 1776.

Georgians still remember Georgians still remember OglethorpeOglethorpe

• Oglethorpe’s presence Oglethorpe’s presence in our state is still in our state is still here. here.

• Oglethorpe County Oglethorpe County was named after him, was named after him, so were two towns; so were two towns; Oglethorpe and Oglethorpe and Oglethorpe University.Oglethorpe University.

• Also there are many Also there are many schools, streets, schools, streets, parks, and business parks, and business name after the name after the founder of Georgia.founder of Georgia.

Remember: OglethorpeRemember: Oglethorpe

• Oglethorpe started our colony Oglethorpe started our colony because he believed that debtors because he believed that debtors needed a better place to live than the needed a better place to live than the jails in London.jails in London.

• Georgia gave them an opportunity to Georgia gave them an opportunity to strive to have a better life.strive to have a better life.

• Oglethorpe was a caring man that Oglethorpe was a caring man that changed the lives of many others by changed the lives of many others by his actions.his actions.

ReferencesReferences

• http://ourgeorgiahistory.com/people/http://ourgeorgiahistory.com/people/oglethorpe.htmloglethorpe.html

• http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/ghttp://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/oglethorpe.htmainfo/oglethorpe.htm

• http://www.harcourtschool.com/activhttp://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/biographies/oglethorpe/ity/biographies/oglethorpe/

• http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1058&sug=ynge/Article.jsp?id=h-1058&sug=y