September 23, 1806

1806 The fifth edition of George Washington the Great was printed in Augusta; this was the first volume to contain the famous (albeit fictitious) "cherry tree" story.

September 23, 1881

Georgia cities and towns incorporated by acts approved on Sept. 23:

1881 McVille (Telfair and Montgomery counties)

September 23, 1884

1884 Politician Eugene Talmadge was born in Forsyth, Georgia. Obtaining a law degree from the University of Georgia in 1907, he practiced law for a year in Atlanta before moving to Montgomery County. He married, moved to Telfair County, bought a farm on Sugar Creek, and practiced law while farming for over a decade. After unsuccessful races for the Georgia House and Senate, he ran for the office of Commissioner of Agriculture in 1926 and won. In 1932, he successfully campaigned for governor. Two years later he was reelected. He came back in 1940 for a controversial term that resulted in the loss of accreditation for Georgia colleges and universities. In 1946, he lost the popular vote--but won because of the county unit system. However, he died before taking office, leading to the "Three Governors Affair."

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September 23, 1885

Georgia cities and towns incorporated by acts approved on Sept. 23:

1885 Waco (Haralson County)

September 23, 1930

1930 Singer Ray C. Robinson was born in Albany, Georgia. When he was about six months old, his family moved to Greenville, Florida. His father left, leaving the family to struggle. Robinson later recalled in his autobiography that they were so poor that there was "Nothin’ below us, ’cept the ground." About age 5, he started losing his sight from glaucoma. Nevertheless, he loved music--from gospel at the Baptist Church he attended to country from listening to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday nights.Later, at a state school for the deaf and blind in St. Augustine, he was exposed to classical music. At age 15, Robinson’s mother died, leaving him alone in the world. He developed his musical talents, learning to play piano, organ, and several other instruments. He began play clubs in Florida and saved enough money to get as far away from Florida as he could--which was Seattle, Washington. Here, he won a talent contest and his career was underway. At this point, he decided to change his name so he wouldn’t be confused with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson -- so, Ray Charles stopped using his last name. In 1949, he signed a recording contract--and the rest is history. His list of hits is too long to list, but some of the best-known are "What’d I Say, " "I’ve Got a Woman," and of course the one forever associated with his birth state, "Georgia."

September 23, 1949

1949 A statue of Eugene Talmadge [photo] was unveiled on the southeast corner of the Georgia state capitol grounds. The ceremony came on what would have been Talmadge’s 65th birthday.

September 23, 1976

1976 Jimmy Carter and President Gerald Ford squared off in the first of three nationally televised debates, this one in Philadelphia. There were some sharp exchanges, with both candidates attacking the other on unemployment, tax policy, and the role of the federal government. Virtually all of what was said was repeats of campaign speeches. The debate was delayed for 27 minutes due to a sound system failure.

September 23, 1996

1996 In their 2,431st -- and last -- regular season game in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, the Atlanta Braves beat the Montreal Expos by a score of 3-1. Former Atlanta mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. -- who was instrumental in getting the Milwaukee Braves to agree to move to Atlanta -- threw out the first pitch. After the game, ex-Braves appeared in a salute to mark the 31 years the Braves had played in the stadium.

September 23, 1997

1997 In an action approved by the Georgia State Board of Regents, Macon College officially was renamed Macon State College.

September 23, 1997

1997 The Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 3-2 in the 11th inning and clinched the National League’s Eastern Division. In so doing, the Braves made history, for no other Major League team has won its division championship six straight years in a row. The win also made Bobby Cox the only manager in Major League history to led a team to six straight division titles. [On Sept. 15, 1998, the Braves and Bobby Cox would extend their record pace with a seventh consecutive division title.]