Georgia's Founding and Colonial

James Oglethorpe

Oglethorpe was a wealthy, intellectual member of England's Parliament. He felt strongly about the terrible conditions of those living in debtors prisons in England. He became particularly interested in the cause when his friend, Robert Castell, died from illness in a debtor's prison. The idea of creating a new colony was appealing to him so that he could help Britain's poor, or worthy poor. He began planning the new colony in 1720, but would not propose the idea to the king until 1730. King George II was the king at the time, and agreed to grant the charter so long as the new colony served other purposes as well. The colony was to be name Georgia, in honor of the king. 

Charter of 1732

King George II granted the Charter of 1732 to James Oglethorpe. It established Oglethorpe and 20 other men as leaders of the colony, called Trustees. Even though the charter was granted in 1732, Oglethorpe and his men would not arrive in Georgia until 1733. While Georgia was created to help debtors in prison, it was not a prison, or penal, colony like Australia in its early stages of development.

Reasons for Settlement

Philanthropy: Trustees would pay the way for debtors to settle in Georgia, but few debtors actually came to Georgia. Economics: Trustees believed the settlers would produce silk and wine even though liquor was prohibited. Defense: Georgia would serve as a buffer colony between the Spanish in Florida and the colony of South Carolina in order to protect the other colonies from Spanish invasion.

Trustees

The appointed trustees would serve for the next 21 years, after which it would change from a trustee colony to a royal colony. Trustees are not supposed to make profit from decisions they make. To assure that the trustees would not act out of self-interest, Georgia's chapter prohibited several activities. Trustees could not receive a salary, own land in the colony, or hold public office.

Colonists

Funding to travel to the new colony was raised through advertising for donations in pamphlets, speeches, newspapers, etc. Deciding who would go was a problem. Eventually, 35 families were selected. No debtors who were released from prison were among them. Instead, they selected craftsmen like carpenters, bakers, farmers, tailors, etc. Once there, they would be given weapons, tools, seeds, and food until the first harvest came in. In November 1732, Oglethorpe and 114 others traveled on the ship, Ann, to Georgia.