John Milledge was born in Savannah, the grandson of an original settler of Georgia. He was tutored privately and studied law. After being admitted to the bar, he opened a law practice in Savannah. He owned slaves.[2] At the onset of the Revolutionary War, Milledge was part of a group that took colonial governor Sir James Wright as a prisoner in 1775. He also took part in a raid of Savannah's royal armory to procure gunpowder for the revolutionary cause. When the British captured Savannah, Milledge escaped to South Carolina, where American patriots nearly hanged him as a spy. He participated in the Siege of Savannah in an attempt to drive the British forces out. In 1778, he served as an aide to Governor John Houstoun in an abortive campaign against the British in East Florida. In 1781, as a colonel in the Georgia militia, he helped to recapture Augusta.[3]
Political career
State legislature and U.S. Congress
Milledge's political career began in 1779, when he was elected to the patriot general assembly. After serving as the attorney general of Georgia, Milledge was a member of the Georgia General Assembly. While in the General Assembly, he spoke out forcefully against the Yazoo Land Acts.[4] In 1792, the House of Representatives declared the seat of Anthony Wayne vacant due to disputes over his residency. Milledge was elected to the Second Congress to fill this vacancy and served from November 22, 1792, to March 3, 1793.[5] Later, Milledge would be elected to the Fourth and Fifth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1795, to March 3, 1799. In 1801, he was again elected to Congress, this time as a Democratic-Republican, and served from March 4, 1801, until he resigned in May 1802 to become Governor of Georgia.
Governor of Georgia
Milledge was Governor of Georgia from 1802 to 1806. As governor, he created Georgia's first land lottery to combat corruption in the distribution of former Creek lands to settlers.[6] He also reorganized the state militia, and built a road from Georgia to Tennessee passing through Cherokee lands.[7]
With regards to the Napoleonic Wars, Milledge was outspokenly pro-British. Milledge remained very hostile to the French Revolution and believed that a close relationship with the United Kingdom was in the interest of the United States. Milledge said he saw "no value" in attempting to maintain relations with revolutionary France.[9]
The University of Georgia
While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Milledge was named to a commission to establish a site for the state
University of Georgia (incorporated January 27, 1785). On July 25, 1801, Milledge bought with his own money some land[10] on the Oconee River for the school,[11] and named the surrounding area Athens, in honor of the city of Plato's Academy.
John Milledge Hall (circa 1921 as a male dormitory) at the University of Georgia, now houses the Division of Academic Enhancement and the Regents' Center for Learning Disorders.
Death and legacy
After retiring from the United States Senate, Milledge returned home, to live out his final years at his plantation near Augusta, Georgia. He died there, February 9, 1818, and was buried in Summerville Cemetery in that same city.[12]
Milledge Avenue in downtown Athens is named for him. Milledge Road in Augusta is also named for him.[13]
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