Jared Irwin

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Jared Irwin (1750March 1, 1818) was twice elected Governor of Georgia around the turn of the Nineteenth Century.

Born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, his family moved to Burke County, Georgia when he was young. He fought in the American Revolution entered as a private and ended it a general. He was a member of the convention which adopted the Constitution of 1789.

He was elected Governor to clean up the Yazoo land scandal in his first term. Less than two months after taking office he signed the bill nullifying the Yazoo Act on February 13, 1796 and burned it on the grounds of the capital which had just been moved to Louisville in response to the scandal. During his second term, he administered the state's second land lottery.

He died at the age of 68.

Irwinville, Irwinton and Irwin County, Georgia were named for him. Irwin lived in Washington Co., GA where he is buried near Ohoopee Baptist Church. His home in Lumpkin, Georgia is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Preceded by
George Mathews
Governor of Georgia
17961798
Succeeded by
James Jackson
Preceded by
John Milledge
Governor of Georgia
18061809
Succeeded by
David B. Mitchell

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