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| You are in: Museum of History >> Hall of USA >> Declaration of Independence >> George Walton | |
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| You are in: Museum of History >> Hall of USA >> Declaration of Independence >> George Walton | |
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GEORGE WALTON was born in Frederick county, Virginia in 1741 and was left an orphan when still a small child. His uncle reared him until he was old enough to be apprenticed to a carpenter. Walton was entirely self-taught; his employer would not permit him the use of a candle to read at night, but in his zeal for knowledge, Walton found a substitute in pine knots. When his master realized that young Walton had other talents worth pursuing, he released Walton from his contract. Walton moved to Savannah Georgia and studied law with Henry Young. He was admitted to the bar in 1774 and began his practice at Augusta.
While Georgia for the most part remained loyal to Britain, Walton zealously supported the cause for independence and did not hesitate to make his feelings known in business or social circles. Walton was one of four people who called a public meeting at Savannah on July 27, 1774, for the purpose of hearing public grievances against the crown and he was one of a committee that was appointed on that occasion to correspond with the other colonies in opposition to the British government.
In 1775, Walton married Dorothy Camber and they eventually had two sons. That same year he was also chosen as president of the newly created council of safety. Early in 1776, Walton was sent to the Continental congress and he quickly gained recognition and the respect of his colleagues. He was re-elected the following October and until October 1781, he continued to represent Georgia. Walton favored a strong central government for America and it was this conviction that led to his friendship with Robert Morris and George Clymer. When the Second Congress had to retreat to Baltimore, Morris, Clymer and Walton remained in Philadelphia, risking capture by the British, and created an effective, informal war office. In December 1778, Walton was appointed a colonel in the militia, commanding a battalion on the right of General Robert Howe's army when the British took Savannah. Walton was wounded in the thigh, fell from his horse, and was taken prisoner by the British troops. A brigadier-general was demanded in exchange for him, but in September 1779, he was exchanged for a captain of the British Navy.
In October 1779, Walton was appointed governor of Georgia for several weeks before the British took it over. He was appointed chief justice of the state in 1783, and he held other judicial posts, being a notable supporter of law and order in his rather turbulent state, that was then in a frontier stage. In 1789 he was elected again governor of Georgia and in the last decade of his life he filled an un-expired term in the United States Senate.
During the latter years of his life, Walton suffered intensely from frequent and long attacks of gout, which probably contributed to his death. He died at Meadow Garden, his home in Augusta Georgia on February 2, 1804.
The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:
[Column 1]
Georgia - Signers
[Column 2]
North Carolina:
South Carolina:
[Column 3]
Massachusetts:
Maryland:
Virginia:
[Column 4]
Pennsylvania:
Delaware:
[Column 5]
New York:
New Jersey:
[Column 6]
New Hampshire:
Massachusetts:
Rhode Island:
Connecticut:
New Hampshire:
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