September 12, 1708

1708 Planter and politicians Jonathan Bryan was born in Pocotaligo, South Carolina. Bryan’s first contact with Georgia came when James Oglethorpe and the first settlers arrived at Port Royal in early February 1733. While the colonists stayed in barracks at a Carolina Ranger outpost, Bryan accompanied Oglethorpe on an advance visit to the Savannah River to look for a place to settle. In 1740, he returned to Georgia as an officer in a South Carolina militia unit that accompanied Oglethorpe’s unsuccessful military expedition against the Spanish fort in St. Augustine. In 1751, Bryan received a land grant in Georgia and moved to the colony, where he began building rice plantation in the Savannah area. When Georgia became a royal colony in 1754, Bryan was asked to serve on the governor’s council. He also served as a justice of the general court, colonial treasurer, road commissioner, and captain of a militia unit. After the Stamp Act, however, Bryan became associated with the patriotic movement. During the American Revolution, Bryan was captured by the British and imprisoned for two years. Upon his release, he found that his wife had died and his Georgia plantations were in ruin. After the war, he regained his wealth. In 1788, he died near Savannah. Five years later, the General Assembly created Bryan County, named in his honor.

September 12, 1739

1739 Following his successful visit to the Creek Nation, an ill James Oglethorpe arrived at Fort Augusta. Here he recovered from his long journey for four days before continuing his trip to Savannah and finally Fort Frederica.

September 12, 1752

1752 Officially, this day did not exist in Georgia. See Sept. 3 entry for reason.

September 12, 1779

1779 Military operations leading to the siege of Savannah began. With the arrival of darkness, Count d’Estaing’s French troops temporarily stationed on Ossabaw Island boarded a flotilla of ships and sailed twelve miles up the Vernon River to Beaulieu. Here, they would spend the next few days unloading soldiers, arms, artillery, and other military equipment and supplies to be used in the assault on British troops holding Savannah.

September 12, 1919

1919 The purchase of the Coca-Cola Co. by Trust Company of Georgia for $30 million was completed.

September 12, 1964

1964 Carving renewed on the Stone Mountain sculpture. Chief carver Roy Faulkner used a thermal-jet torch that allowed him to remove tons of granite per day.

September 12, 1996

1996 Playing in New York, the Atlanta Braves tied a club record -- but one they would like to forget. In the bottom of the 12th inning, the Mets broke a tie with a 6-5 victory over the Braves. This marked Atlanta’s 10th consecutive road loss -- a record last set in 1982.