Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3056 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSadmitted to the bar, and was in the Legislature at the age of twenty-one. Atthe age of twenty-three President Andrew Jackson appointed him districtattorney, and at the age of twenty-eight he was made judge of the easternjudicial' circuit. He served three times as mayor of Savannah, and towardthe end of his career he was elected United States senator Vom Georgia. Hehad a very extensive and successful law practice. Among the early Georgiareports is a volume published by him and containing his own decisions as wellas those of the judges who held the bench in the eastern circuit subsequent tothe publication of the reports of his father Thomas U. P. Charlton. RobertM. Charlton was a man of the finest principles and the highest ideals, lovinghis state and her people; was at once firm and gentle; helpful and sympathetic.Devoted to the teachings of his own church, in his intercourse with his fellowmanhe knew no limitations of specific creeds or conditions, and became probably the most beloved citizen Savannah ever had. He was not only a learnedlawyer and an orator, but a writer and poet. In his mind the wit of his fatherwas tempered with a fine sense of humor, and evidences of this very qualityare found in his contributions to the Knickerbocker Magazine,, the leadingperiodical of those times, in a scries of sketches of life on the circuit. Anedition of his poems, to which were added some of the productions of hisbrother, appeared in 1839 and another in 1842. In honor of this distinguishedlawyer and jurist were named Charlton County and also Charlton ward inthe City of Savannah. Robert M. Charlton was married in 1829 to MargaretShick, daughter of Peter Shick. The latter's (ancestors had left Salzburgat the time of the Protestant exodus, and settled in the colony of Georgiaduring the first years of its establishment.It is no easy task to fill worthily the inherited position of descendant ofsuch ancestors as are those of Walter G. Charlton. But in his individualcareer he has carried forward and exercised a considerable share of the qualities which distinguished his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.His education came from the schools of Savannah, in Hancock County,Georgia, and in Baltimore County, Maryland, he was a student under RichardMalcolm Johnston. The latter's daughter Mary Walton became the wife ofJudge Charlton on February 11, 1874.In 1869 he entered the University of Virginia, and was admitted to thebar in the Eastern Georgia Circuit January 22, 1873. In the same year hebecame associated with Albert R. Lamar in the office of solicitor general, in1877 was appointed reporter of the circuit and in 1880 was elected solicitorgeneral. On February 11, 1908, he was appointed judge of the Eastern Judicial Circuit, an honor especially esteemed by him oecause of the previousservice in the same circuit of his father and grandfather. A few monthsafter his appointment he was elected tcr the office and in 1912 re-elected.Judge Charlton for several years was chairman of the democratic partyin Chatham County, and his people have been democrats literally from theday the party was formed. Judge Charlton has also much of the literary andoratorical ability of his ancestors, has delivered a number of speeches on theoccasion of historic celebrations, is the author of several essays on Georgia history, and has at odd moments, written verses of exquisite fancy and acknowledged literary value. He has served as president of the Georgia Society ofthe Cincinnati and of the Georgia Society of the Revolution and is honorary' member of Georgia Historical Society; was also vice president of the Washington Literary and Debating Society when at University of Virginia andfor some years served as president of the Oglethorpe Club in Savannah.ROBERT H. STANLEY, M. D. In the exacting profession of medicine andsurgery, involving the very destinies of human life, success worthy of thename can come only as the result of careful preliminary training and subsequent subordination of all else to the demands placed upon the man who