James Oglethorpe: The Founder of Savannah, GA and Champion of Social Justice
James Oglethorpe on the banks of the Savannah River - Story and all imagery imagined and curated by Artist Charles Maring
The history and tale of James Oglethorpe and his relationship to Savannah, Georgia
James Oglethorpe in Parliament
James Oglethorpe is a name that every visitor and resident of Savannah, GA should know well. He was a visionary who founded the colony of Georgia in 1733, with the aim of creating a society that was free from the social and economic inequalities that plagued England at the time. Oglethorpe's vision for the colony was unique and innovative, and his legacy is still visible in the city of Savannah today. In this story we will focus primarily on his relationship to Savannah, but with a lifetime of work we highly suggest readers dive deeper on their own as well as this is a tale worth your time to explore in great depth.
Oglethorpe's story began in 1729 when he became a member of the British Parliament. He was a philanthropist who was deeply concerned about the problems faced by debtors and the poor in England. Often those who had fallen into debt from failed businesses or other woes would be place in prisons of the worst conditions imaginable alongside murderers and thieves. When Oglethorpe was 33 his friend Robert Castell was jailed because of his debts and ultimately died of smallpox while in prison. This prompted Oglethorpe to begin to look into prison conditions in England.
The overcrowded prison conditions in in Britain the the 1700’s was horrific with debtors placed among murders, thieves, and the sick.
What he found was a toxic environment of torture being performed by wardens. At times they’d intentionally place otherwise healthy individuals into cells with the sick that were so crowded that prisoners had to take turns standing and sleeping. His investigations uncovered such dismal conditions and abuses that he began speaking out against the issues, and searching with his heart for a resolution that would allow these jailed debtors a second chance at life.
James Oglethorpe visits James Castell in Prison
Through his work on prison reform Oglethorpe would meet Dr. Thomas Bray who was the founder of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel which was a society for promoting Christian knowledge. When he died Bray left £5000 for the administrators of his estate including Oglethorpe to be used for good work in the colonies. Some in this group would go on to become part of the Georgia Trustees that would eventually vett those debtors who would be offered the opportunity to go to America, as well as govern Georgia for quite some time.
King George II
Oglethorpe proposed the idea of creating a the 13th colony in America where debtors could start afresh and build a new life for themselves. Initially Prime Minister Robert Walpole and some members of Parliament were hesitant to create a new colony below South Carolina. The Spanish had taken Florida, and there was fear that they might be provoked. There were also Native Americans to consider, and for the colony would succeed much consideration had to be taken into account. However, Oglethorpe continued to lobby for support from other politicians and wealthy individuals, and in 1732, he received a charter from King George II to establish the colony of Georgia in America. He imagined the colony to be an ideal agrarian society.
On November 17 1732 James Edward Oglethorpe and approximately 114 passengers set sail from Gravesend, England on frigate Anne. It would take two months to travel from England to America. The group would first stop in Charleston, South Carolina before proceeding to Port Royal, SC where they would wait while Oglethorpe and a group of Carolina Rangers would go in search of the perfect location to settle. In their search they came across Yamacraw Bluff, which was a stretch of land overlooking the Savannah River. Once he gathered all of the colonists on the new site the group began the process of creating temporary shelters and making plans for the new city and home.
Frigate Anne sails towards America from Gravesend, England.
Oglethorpe opposed slavery, and wanted Georgia to be a free society where people of all religions would be welcome. Even though the charter stated that Catholics and Jewish people were not allowed Oglethorpe authorized everyone to join the movement. He also wanted all to be able to live in peace in the area and made it a point to negotiate with Tomochichi who was the Chief of the Yamacraw Indians. They were a small band of Lower Creek Indians who lived in coastal Georgia nearby. Oglethorpe enlisted the assistance of Mary Musgrove, an Indian woman who’s father was English to help as an interpreter and they built a trade relationship based on mutual respect.
Over the years Oglethorpe worked tirelessly to build a settlement that would be safe and prosperous for its inhabitants. He established a system of government that was based on democratic principles, and he worked to ensure that all citizens had access to education, and other basic necessities. Oglethorpe also sought to establish friendly relations with the Native American tribes in the area and promote peaceful coexistence between the two groups.
A view of Savannah as it stood the 29th of March 1734 from the Library of Congress
Today, Savannah is a vibrant city that is steeped in history. Visitors can still see many of the landmarks and buildings that Oglethorpe established, including the town squares that were designed to promote social interaction and the Georgia Historical Society, which was founded by Oglethorpe in 1732. Oglethorpe's vision for a better world lives on in Savannah, where his ideas about equality and social justice continue to inspire people today.
If you are planning a visit to Savannah, make sure you take the time to learn about James Oglethorpe and his incredible legacy. You will be amazed by his vision for a fairer society and his tireless work to create a better world.