Province of Georgia

Quick Facts: Who was Province of Georgia?

Subject:

Province of Georgia

Known for:

A British proprietary colony established as a buffer state against Spanish Florida.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Province of Georgia (also Georgia Colony) was one of the Southern Colonies in colonial-era British America. Founded as a British proprietary colony in 1732, in 1751 it became a royal colony. In 1775 it was the last of the Thirteen Colonies to support the American Revolution. The original land grant of the Province of Georgia included a narrow strip of land that extended west to the Pacific Ocean. The colony's corporate charter was granted to General James Oglethorpe on April 21, 1732, by George II, for whom the colony was named.

Career & Major Achievements

The charter was finalized by the King's privy council on June 9, 1732. The English colony of Georgia was planned as a utopian society with an integrated physical, economic and social design influenced by the ideals of James Harrington. Oglethorpe envisioned a colony which would serve as a haven for English subjects who had been imprisoned for debt and "the worthy poor." General Oglethorpe imposed laws that many colonists disagreed with, such as the banning of alcoholic beverages. He disagreed with slavery and thought a system of smallholdings more appropriate than the large plantations common in the colonies just to the north. However, land grants were not as large as most colonists would have preferred.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Another reason for the founding of the colony was as a buffer state and a "garrison province" which would defend the southern British colonies from Spanish Florida. Oglethorpe imagined a province populated by "sturdy farmers" who could guard the border; because of this, the colony's charter prohibited slavery. The ban on slavery was lifted by 1751 and the colony became a royal colony by 1752, taking over from the Trustees for the Establishment of the Colony of Georgia in America. Although many believe that the colony was formed for the imprisoned, the colony was actually formed as a place of no slavery. Oglethorpe did have the vision to make it a place for debtors, but it transformed into a royal colony.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1732: 1732 Milestone — Founded as a British proprietary colony in 1732, in 1751 it became a royal colony.
2. 1751: 1751 Milestone — The ban on slavery was lifted by 1751 and the colony became a royal colony by 1752, taking over from the Trustees for the Establishment of the Colony of Georgia in America.
3. 1775: 1775 Milestone — In 1775 it was the last of the Thirteen Colonies to support the American Revolution.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Province of Georgia

True or False: “The initial charter for the Province of Georgia prohibited slavery to establish it as a unique haven.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The original charter was designed with this restriction, though the ban on slavery was eventually lifted by 1751.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• André-Charles Boulle — Historical peer (Died in 1732) (1732): Preeminent French cabinetmaker, master of marquetry and 'Boulle work' inlay.
• Emperor Reigen — Historical peer (Died in 1732) (1732): The 112th Emperor of Japan; reigned from 1663 to 1687.
• Emanuel Schikaneder — Historical peer (Born in 1751) (1751): Pioneering German impresario, dramatist, and librettist, famed for Die Zauberflöte.
• Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies — Historical peer (Born in 1751) (1751): King of the Two Sicilies, founder of the Bourbon-Two Sicilies dynasty.
• André-Marie Ampère — Historical peer (Born in 1775) (1775): Founder of classical electromagnetism; inventor of the solenoid and electrical telegraph.
• Bahadur Shah Zafar — Historical peer (Born in 1775) (1775): The last Mughal Emperor of India and renowned Urdu poet.
• Adrien-Marie Legendre — Historical peer (Born in 1752) (1752): Pioneering French mathematician known for Legendre polynomials and least squares method.
• Gouverneur Morris — Historical peer (Born in 1752) (1752): American Founding Father, statesman, and 'Penman of the Constitution'

Frequently Asked Questions about Province of Georgia