Early Life
On December 22, 1696, James Oglethorpe was born as the tenth and last child to Eleanor and Theophilus Oglethorpe. The Oglethorpes owned a large estate in England, where Oglethorpe grew up in the Westbrook Manor.He attended Corpus Christ Church in Oxford. Unfortunately, he joined the army the same year.When he returned from the war, Oglethorpe killed a man, and served five months in prison.After leaving prison, Oglethorpe was elected as a Parliament member Haslemere for the next 32 years. While he served, Oglethorpe spoke of his strong opinions against slavery, and was a defender of the rights of colonists.Known as a philanthropist, Oglethorpe came up with the idea of a debtor's colony after the death of a friend, Robert Casell, who died of smallpox while serving in debtor's prison. This idea made one of the 50 states of the United States: Georgia!
Debtor's Colony
James Oglethorpe began to have an automatic protest against debtor's prison after the death of his friend, Robert Castell. Castell was sent to jail for his inability of paying his debts when he wrote and published a book at his own expense. The book did not sell many copies, and Castell was sent into a debtor's prison. He was unable to pay for a room at the prison and was thrown into a cell with a man who was dying of smallpox. Robert Castell was infected of the disease, and died less than a month later. Oglethorpe later investigated the debtors' prisons and was horrified to learn of the abuses,conditions, and extortion which occurred in them. Oglethorpe launched into a campaign to stop running the prisons, and was soon a major humanitarian in England. However, Oglethorpe realized that just freeing the debtors was not enough and will not help the debtors at all, since they will be in a state of no money and will not be able to take care of their own expenses.
Oglethorpe met with King George II, persuading him that Georgia would be, indeed, a prosperous colony using 3 reasons: 1) The colony would provide a military buffer against the Spanish in Florida, 2) The colony would provide goods such as silk and wine for the Empire, and 3) Settlers would also have religious freedom.(hence Catholcs were not allowed; the Protestants were being persecuted at this time.)
King George agreed with Oglethorpe, granting him a charter( a written grant) which allowed him to settle land in the New World. He sent Oglethorpe among 21 Trustees to govern the colony. Althogh Oglethorpe's main goal was to help England's "worthy poor", none who boarded the Anne(the ship on which Oglethorpe sailed to the New World) were from the debtors' prisons, because enogh non-debtor colonists were found. Oglethorpe set sail with his new 144 colonists in Novenber 1732, and walked on Georgian soil( after landing in South Carolina) in February of 1733.
Oglethorpe met with King George II, persuading him that Georgia would be, indeed, a prosperous colony using 3 reasons: 1) The colony would provide a military buffer against the Spanish in Florida, 2) The colony would provide goods such as silk and wine for the Empire, and 3) Settlers would also have religious freedom.(hence Catholcs were not allowed; the Protestants were being persecuted at this time.)
King George agreed with Oglethorpe, granting him a charter( a written grant) which allowed him to settle land in the New World. He sent Oglethorpe among 21 Trustees to govern the colony. Althogh Oglethorpe's main goal was to help England's "worthy poor", none who boarded the Anne(the ship on which Oglethorpe sailed to the New World) were from the debtors' prisons, because enogh non-debtor colonists were found. Oglethorpe set sail with his new 144 colonists in Novenber 1732, and walked on Georgian soil( after landing in South Carolina) in February of 1733.
Savannah
When Oglethorpe went to Yamacraw Bluff, he immediately chose it for its high rise, which would prevent a naval assault. Before starting to build the city, Oglethorpe acknowledges that there are Native Americans in the area. Unlike previous explorers, Oglethorpe made peace with the tribe(the Yamacraws), and only cleared the trees and started to build Savannah with Tomochichi's consent, the cheif of the tribe. Oglethorpe made the city be created in 24 blocks, of which only 22 exist to this day.
Oglethorpe and the Trustees made many rules and regulations according to the charter of King George II. Each man was to defend the new colony against all enemies. Land given to colonists could not be sold, and no money could be borrowed on it, yet, can be passed on to a male heir.Each colonist had to work and cultivate their land of the new settlement. Colonists were to use a portion of their land to grow crops, such as mulberry trees so that silkworms would eat the leaves and make cocoons for the production of silk. Each colonist was to obey all regulations established by the trustees.
Oglethorpe and the Trustees made many rules and regulations according to the charter of King George II. Each man was to defend the new colony against all enemies. Land given to colonists could not be sold, and no money could be borrowed on it, yet, can be passed on to a male heir.Each colonist had to work and cultivate their land of the new settlement. Colonists were to use a portion of their land to grow crops, such as mulberry trees so that silkworms would eat the leaves and make cocoons for the production of silk. Each colonist was to obey all regulations established by the trustees.
Leader and Trustee
King George II sent 21 Trustees to govern the infant colony of Georgia, including James Oglethorpe. some of the main bans in the colony were no slavery( the exclusion of blacks), no Catholics, or lawyers. Another contraband was alcohol. Oglethorpe was looked upon as a leader, but he was not, as the king sent the Trustees to govern equally. Following the War of jenkin's Ear, however, Oglethorpe was no longer looked upon as the colonial leader of Georgia. He was comissioned to return to England for disorderly conduct. All allegations have proved false in 1744; his reputation was not harmed. Less than 10 years after he left the colony of Georgia, Trustee rule ended in 1752, and so began the reign of Royal Governors. Oglethorpe stopped serving as a Trustee in 1750.
1
Oglethorpe's name is honored in many places to this day:
1.Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, chartered in 1835, is named, obviously, after the founder.
2.Oglethope County has the highest population in Northwest Georgia.
3.Upper New Square was renamed as Oglethorpe Square, Savannah, Ga.
4.A statue of Oglethorpe can be found in Chippewa Square, Savannah, Ga.
1.Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, chartered in 1835, is named, obviously, after the founder.
2.Oglethope County has the highest population in Northwest Georgia.
3.Upper New Square was renamed as Oglethorpe Square, Savannah, Ga.
4.A statue of Oglethorpe can be found in Chippewa Square, Savannah, Ga.