George W. Towns

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George Washington Bonaparte Towns (May 4, 1801–July 15, 1854) was a United States lawyer, legislator, and politician.

Towns began his 22 year long political career in 1829 as a strong Unionist and opponent of nulification as a representative and senator in the Georgia General Assembly. He subsequently served as a U.S congressmen, and governor of Georgia from 1847 to 1851. However, by the end of his time in politics, Towns had become a radical secessionist who believed the federal government was controlled by abolitionists keen on repressing the South.

[edit] Early life and career

George Washington Bonaparte Towns was born on May 4, 1801 to Margaret George Hardwick and John Towns, a a veteran of the American Revolution, in Wilkes County, Georgia. His parents were Virginians who had moved to Georgia and settled in Wilkes County. Shortly after his birth, the Towns family moved throughout Georgia, where he received a small preparatory education. He then began to study medicine in Eatonton, but after his studies were interrupted by an injury, he moved to Montgomery, Alabama, which had recently joined the Union. There, he studied law and, in 1824 was admitted to the Montgomery bar. As time went by, Towns continued to gain prominence in sociey, and in 1826 acquired the newspaper, Alabama Journal. During that same year he married his first wife Margaret Jane Campbell, whose poor health led to her death several days after the marriage ceremony. Following the death of his wife, Towns moved back to Georgia and settled in Talbot County. In 1828 he became one of the original town commissioners of Talbotton, where he also established a law office. During this period Towns served as colonel in the 65th Regiment of the Georgia Militia.

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Preceded by Augustin Smith Clayton	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's At-large congressional district March 4, 1835–September 1, 1836	Succeeded by Julius Caesar Alford
Preceded by Julius Caesar Alford	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's At-large congressional district March 4, 1837–March 3, 1839	Succeeded by Thomas Butler King
Preceded by Edward Junius Black	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 3rd congressional district January 5, 1846–March 3, 1847	Succeeded by John William Jones
Preceded by George W. Crawford	Governor of Georgia 1847–1851	Succeeded by Howell Cobb

v • d • e Governors of Georgia

Bulloch • Gwinnett • Treutlen • Houstoun • Wereat • Walton • Howly • Heard • Davies • Brownson • Martin • Hall • Houstoun • Elbert • Telfair • Mathews • Handley • Walton • Telfair • Mathews • Irwin • Jackson • Emanuel • Tattnall • Milledge • Irwin • Mitchell • Early • Mitchell • Rabun • Talbot • Clark • Troup • Forsyth • Gilmer • Lumpkin • Schley • Gilmer • McDonald • Crawford • Towns • Cobb • H. Johnson • J.E. Brown • J. Johnson • Jenkins • Ruger • Bullock • Conley • J. Smith • Colquitt • Stephens • Boynton • McDaniel • Gordon • Northen • Atkinson • Candler • Terrell • H. Smith • J.M. Brown • H. Smith • Slaton • J.M. Brown • Slaton • N. Harris • Dorsey • Hardwick • Walker • Hardman • Russell • E. Talmadge • Rivers • E. Talmadge • Arnall • Thompson • H. Talmadge • Griffin • Vandiver • Sanders • Maddox • Carter • Busbee • J.F. Harris • Miller • Barnes • Perdue