George Rockingham Gilmer

George Rockingham Gilmer (April 11, 1790 – November 16, 1859) was an American statesman and politician. He served two non-consecutive terms as the 34th Governor of Georgia, the first from 1829 to 1831 and the second from 1837 to 1839. He also served multiple terms in the United States House of Representatives.

Early life

Gilmer was born near Lexington, Georgia, in what is present day Oglethorpe County (Wilkes County at the time of his birth). He served as first lieutenant in the Forty-third Regiment, United States Infantry, from 1813 to 1815 in the campaign against the Creek during the War of 1812. He practiced law as a profession.

Political career

Gilmer's career consisted of multiple, alternating, elected positions at both the state and federal levels of government.

Gilmer was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1818, 1819, and 1824.

Gilmer was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives four times 1820, 1826, 1828 and 1832; however, he did not serve after the election in 1828 because he failed to accept the position within the legal timeframe to do so. The Governor of Georgia subsequently declared the House seat vacant and ordered a new election to fill the seat.

As governor, Gilmer initiated the prosecution of Cherokee missionary Samuel Austin Worcester for violation of a law requiring that all white persons residing within the Cherokee nation have a license from the governor and to swear an oath of allegiance to uphold the laws of Georgia. Worcester's arrest in 1831 and subsequent trial, for which he was convicted and sentenced to four years' hard labor, ultimately led to the United States Supreme Court decision Worcester v. Georgia which struck down the Georgia statute imposing Georgia law on the Cherokees as a violation of the Treaty of Hopewell.

Also of Note

Additional facts of interest concerning George Gilmer:

• Trustee of the University of Georgia (1826–1857)
• Gilmer County, Georgia is named after him.
• Georgia Presidential elector in 1836 and 1840
• Authored Sketches of Some of the First Settlers of Upper Georgia

Death and legacy

Gilmer died in 1859 in Lexington and is buried in the Presbyterian Church Cemetery in the same city. Gilmer County, Georgia is named in his honor.

See also

References and external links

• George Rockingham Gilmer at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2008-04-28
• This Day in Georgia History:November 15, Ed Jackson and Charly Pou, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University of Georgia
• Portrait and Bio at GeorgiaInfo.com