Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 2851fense of that city. After the fall of Atlanta he was reappointed brigadiergeneralin the Confederate army and participated in such battles as Franklinand Nashville. His brigade was surrounded and captured at the latter engagement and General Jackson was held a prisoner of war until the close ofhostilities.He returned home and resumed the practice of law. From 1885 to 1887he was United States minister to Mexico. From 1875 until his death he waspresident of the Georgia Historical Society. He was for many years trusteeof the Peabody Educational Fund. In 1892 he was appointed a director ofthe Central Railroad and Banking Company of Georgia. His death occurredin Savannah on Mart* 23, 1898.JUDGE JOHN PBNDLETON KING was born April 3, 1799, near. Glasgow, BarronCounty, Kentucky. In his sixteenth year he visited his uncle, Mr. Patrick,in Columbia County, afterward pursued his studies at Richmond Academy,Augusta, studied law and was admitted to the bar in August, 1819. Afterward he spent several years abroad where he met La Fayette and returnedwith him to America. After touring the North, General La Fayette visitedAugusta in 1825 and was entertained by Mr. King, who also delivered theaddress of welcome at the public reception given our distinguished guest andformer ally. Mr. .King retired from the legal profession in 1829, only tenyears after his admission to the bar, to give his whole attention to Ms largeestate and extensive private interests. Such were his training and powersthat had he adhered to the law and had he been ambitious in the line ofprofessional honors, he could have reached and would have adorned the veryhighest judicial positions in the land. In 1831 Governor Wilson Lumpkinappointed him judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He held the positionbut a short time, but the title clung to him the rest of his life. He was amember of the Constitutional Convention of 1833, and in the fall of that yearwas appointed United States senator to succeed George M. Troup. He wasthe youngest senator of his time. In 1837 he made a speech against the VanBuren administration, which was so severely criticised by the party press ofthe state that he resigned his; seat in the Senate and abandoned politicsaltogether.For a period of nearly forty years Judge King was the sturdiest promoterof railroad enterprises in Georgia. In the early '40s he was president of theGeorgia Railroad while it was struggling for existence. In it he sunk muchof his private fortune previous to the Civil war, during which its rollingstock and road-bed were almost destroyed. Subsequently he was largely themeans of restoring it to usefulness. He also saw the necessity of connectingthe road with the southwestern part of the state and built the Atlanta & WestPoint Railroad. Judge King remained at the head of the Georgia Railroaduntil May, 1878. While connected with railroad management, he studiouslyabstained from politics, but in 1865 he was induced to take a seat in the State.Constitutional Convention. His sound judgment, patriotism, and practicalwisdom largely influenced its action.Judge King was one of a few public spirited citizens of Augusta whoprojected the Augusta Canal, which was commenced in 1845 and which hasbeen such an important factor in the industrial development of that city. Hewas also largely interested- in cotton manufacturing. He was a close studentand vigorous and forcible writer and made numerous contributions to theleading journals of his day. After his retirement from business he led 'a quietlife till March 19, 1887, when, after an illness of only a few days, he passedaway.WILLIAM H. BEHRIE. Continuously for thirty years William H. Berriehas filled the important and responsible office of sheriff in Glynn County.