George Walton: The World's Greatest Men

George Walton

David Hudson
Mil 201

Introduction
The founding of the United States brought out some of the world’s greatest men. The American Revolution wasn’t only the starting of a country but the beginning of a new system of ideals in which men are free and all deserve equal rights. To do this a group of men had to come together to lead the nation against all odds. The founding fathers gave their lives and some even the lives of their families to start this country. The most famous like George Washington and Alexander Hamilton weren’t the only ones who gave their all for the country but other men like George Walton did too. He was a man who came from nothing and become an American hero.
Before
the War
George Walton was young in comparison to many of the other founding fathers.
He was born in 1741 making him only thirty-five in comparison to the others who many were around fifty. He was born in a small town called Farmville in Virginia to a poor family. At a young age he found a love for learning and wanted to learn most about law. When his parents died at an early age he was adopted by his uncle who trained him to be a carpenter. When he came of age he moved to Savannah and continued to study law and was soon admitted to the Georgia bar. In 1774 he was part of a meeting around the liberty pole in Savannah that began to organize a resistance against the British. In July of 1775 he and five others from Georgia went to join the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. On July second of nineteen seventy-six he voted for independence from Britain and on the fourth he signed the Declaration of Independence. He was the only signer from the declaration of independence who wasn’t a plantation owning
aristocrat.
The War
Walton was appointed the rank of Colonel of the Georgia militia by General Robert Howe when the war began. Within the month of his appointment the British invaded Savannah. During his defense of the city he was wounded by a cannonball while on his horse in the leg and captured by the British. After his capture he was sent to POV camps in Florida. The British tried to trade him for one of their own General’s but was refused and held captive for nine months. He was released when the union agreed with the British to trade him for a British Navy Captain.
Rebuilding the Country
He held numerous public offices in Georgia and for the United States.
After his release and the end of the war he was elected Governor of Georgia. His governor was short lived because the people thought he would better serve the people by continuing in congress to help found the United States. After his time in congress he was again elected Governor of Georgia. He served multiple terms as governor. He spent his time after the war serving his state but when called upon his country. When he felt the effects of age take hold of him he decided to live in Augusta, Georgia and started farming. The influence to lead and better those around him caught up to him and he became a trustee of the University of
Georgia and appointed judge of the Superior Circuit of Georgia. He held his position as judge until his death in 1804. He died from Multiple and reoccurring episodes of Gout. Despite a tragic death he led a full life dedicated to his country.
Legacy
George Walton is remembered as a man who gave his all for his country. He served countless offices that pushed the United States to become what it is today. To do all he did he had to possess the qualities to be a great leader. He came from a background that many would not expect given his position in the country. Working hard and perseverance gave him the insight and wisdom to become a great leader. In the state of Georgia he is remembered in History, museums, and as a role model to present leaders within the
government.

Bibliography
George Walton. Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition [serial online]. November 2011;:1. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed December 6, 2011.
Erekson, Ole, Engraver, c1876, and Library of Congress. "George Walton." ushistory.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2011. .
“Biography of George Walton | Colonial Hall." Colonial Hall: Biographies of America 's Founding Fathers. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2011. .