Home > Province of Georgia
The Georgia Colony, one of the Southern colonies, was the last North American colony established by the British in what was to be come the United States.Founded by James Oglethorpe, the corporate charter for the Province of Georgia was signed by King George II of Great Britain on April 21, 1732 (The colony was named for George.) The original charter specified the colony as being between the Savannah and Altamaha rivers, up to their headwaters (the headwaters of the Altamaha are on the Ocmulgee River), then extending westward "sea to sea". The area within the charter had previously been part of the original grant of the Carolina Colony.
The Privy Council finalized the document on June 9, 1732. The council of trustees were unable to manage the proprietary colony so the charter lapsed and on June 23, 1752Events February 11 Pennsylvania Hospital, the first hospital in the US, is opened. March 23 The Halifax Gazette the first Canadian newspaper June 15 Benjamin Franklin proves that lightning is electricity (kite + key + lightning) September 14 The British E the trustees submitted a deed of reconveyance to the crownThe British monarch or Sovereign is the head of state of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and is the source of all executive, judicial and (as the Queen-in-Parliament legislative power. The monarch is also Supreme Governor of the Church of, one year before the expiry of the charter. On January 7January 7 is the 7th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 358 days remaining (359 in leap years). The day is Jinjitsu , in Japan. Events 1325 Alfonso IV becomes King of Portugal. 1558 France takes Calais, the last continental possession of, 1755Events January 25 Moscow University established. July 9 French and Indian War: Braddock Expedition British troops and colonial militiamen are ambushed and suffer a devastating defeat inflicted by French and Indian forces. During the battle, British Genera official ceased to be a trustee colony and became a crown colony.
The colony's original purpose, according to Oglethorpe's plan, was as a penal colonyA penal colony is a colony used to house prisoners. The British Empire's use of parts of Australia provides a classic example. Prisoners were sent far away to discourage escape (or even return after sentence-expiry), and to places otherwise inhospitable w for the resettlement of people in debtor prison. The first convicts arrived on February 12February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 322 days remaining, 323 in leap years. Events 1541 Santiago, Chile is founded by Pedro de Valdivia. 1554 Nine days after claiming the throne of England, Lady Jane Grey is beheade, 1733, a day still celebrated as Georgia Day. For half a century the colony was an important means of relieving overcrowding in British prisons; after the British lost control of the province they created the first colony in Australia to serve the same purpose.
From 1732 until 1758 the minor civil divisions were districts and towns. In 1758 the province of Georgia was divided into eight parishes, plus another four added in 1765; in 1777, the original eight counties of the State of Georgia were created.
In practice settlement in the colony was limited to the near vicinity of the Savannah River. The area of western area of the colony remained the territory of the Creek Indian Confederation until after the American Revolutionary War, when it was ceded to the U.S. in 1805.
