June 12, 1735

1735 Indian trader John Musgrove died near Savannah, Georgia. Born in South Carolina around 1695, Musgrove followed in his father’s footsteps as an Indian trader. In 1716, he married Coosaponekeesa (daughter of a white trader and the niece of Brims, the principal chief of the Lower Creeks in the early 1700s), who took the name of Mary Musgrove and became an important figure in Georgia colonial history. By 1732, the Musgroves has established a successful trading post among the Yamacraw Indians on the southern banks of the Savannah River. In early 1733, John and Mary met James Oglethorpe, who had come looking for a place to settle the first Georgia colonists. On this occasion and the arrival of the colonists (Feb. 1 O.S., Feb. 12 N.S), John acted as principal interepreter for talks between Oglethorpe and Yamacraw chief Tomochichi. In 1734, Musgrove accompanied Oglethorpe and a Yamacraw delegation on a trip to England to serve as their interpreter. For his services, the Trustees granted Musgrove a 500-acre grant of land just north of Savannah. On May 15, 1735, the Trustees awarded Musgrove an exclusive license to trade with the Yamacraw and Yuchi Indians. However, in less than a month, Musgrove died near Savannah.

June 12, 1740

1740 James Oglethorpe and 400 soldiers landed on Eustasia Island opposite the Castillo de San Marcos -- the Spanish fortress at St. Augustine. The English siege of St. Augustine was about to begin.

June 12, 1913

1913 The University of Georgia held its 108th commencement and dedicated a new building -- Peabody Hall. [The first commencement was held in 1804, but there were no commencements in 1864 or 1865.]

June 12, 1939

1939 The National Baseball Hall of Fame was dedicated in Cooperstown. Three years earlier, "Georgia Peach" Ty Cobb became the first baseball player inducted into the Baseball of Fame. By the time of the hall’s dedication in 1939, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson had joined Cobb as the first members honored in the new facility.

June 12, 1957

1957 Georgian Paul Anderson back-lifted a record 2850 kg (6,270 lbs) and was labeled by The Guiness Book of World Records as the "world’s strongest man."

June 12, 1965

1965 University of Georgia and 1992 Olympic gold-medal track star Gwen Torrence was born in Atlanta.

June 12, 1971

1971 Atlanta Braves left fielder Ryan Klesko was born in Westminster, California.

June 12, 1996

1996 Kennesaw State College became Kennesaw State University when the Board of Regents approved a reorganization plan and granted university status to many of the state’s senior colleges.

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Atlanta, GA 30318
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Savannah, GA 31401
Tel 912.651.2125
Fax 912.651.2831
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Library & Archives: 912.651.2128

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MAY
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Today in History

1875 Artist Lucy May Stanton was born in Atlanta, Georgia. By age seven. she was already showing great promise as a painter. Throughout her adult life, Stanton traveled extensively doing … read more