William Ewen

William Ewen (born c. 1720 – died late 1776 or early 1777) was the first president of the Council of Safety of Georgia during the American Revolution. He is considered the state's first chief executive, although the first chief executive under a proper constitutional government (the "Rules and Regulations" of 1776) was Archibald Bulloch, and the first person to hold the title of (non-royal) "governor" was John A. Treutlen.

Believed to have been born in England in 1720, Ewen came to Georgia in 1734 as an indentured servant. Later, he became one of the so-called "Malcontents" who opposed the Trustees of the colony. Ewen served in the colonial Assembly starting in 1761.

Ewen was elected president of the council on June 22, 1775 and served until December 11, 1775. He returned to the post, possibly acting as president for the absent Elisha Butler, from February 20, 1776 through May 1, 1776.

References

• New Georgia Encyclopedia

Governors of Georgia Council Presidents (1775–76) Ewen Walton Ewen Presidents (1776–77) Bulloch Gwinnett Governors (since 1777) Treutlen Houstoun Glascock Cuthbert Wereat Walton Howly Wells 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 Deal