August 13, 1735

1735 In London, the Georgia Trustees voted to name the new settlement near the mouth of the Altamaha River "Frederica" in honor of Prince Frederick, oldest son of King George II, providing he would approve of their action.

August 13, 1903

Georgia towns and cities incorporated by acts approved on Aug. 13:

1903 Kingwood (Colquitt County)

August 13, 1904

Georgia towns and cities incorporated by acts approved on Aug. 13:

1904 Danburg (Wilkes County), Irwinton (Wilkinson County), Maples (Mitchell County), and Tiger (Rabun County)

August 13, 1904

Other acts involving Georgia cities and towns approved Aug. 13:

1904 Charter for Rising Fawn (Dade County) repealed

August 13, 1907

Georgia towns and cities incorporated by acts approved on Aug. 13:

1907 Dooling (Dooly County), Lilly (Dooly County), and Patten (Thomas County)

August 13, 1909

1909 Gov. Joseph M. Brown signed an act designating February 12 as Georgia Day, as this date marked the anniversary of the landing of James Oglethorpe and Georgia’s first colonists. The law required the State Superintendent of Schools and local school superintendents to have teachers conduct exercises in which students take part in various activities relating to Georgia, its history, and lives of distinguished Georgians.

August 13, 1910

1910 Gov. Joseph M. Brown signed Georgia’s first law regulating the use of automobiles. Among the provisions, every vehicle had to be registered with the Secretary of State, had to have a license plate bearing the registration number, and had to have at least one headlight capable of projecting a beam 100 feet at least one red taillight illuminating the license plate. The law mandated no specific highway speed limit except to provide that driving speed must be "reasonable and proper." However, vehicles had to slow to 6 miles per hour when approaching a bridge, sharp curve, or intersection The minimum driving age was set at 16, unless a minor had a year’s experience driving and was accompanied by the owner of the vehicle. And, the law made it illegal to drive while intoxicated.

August 13, 1912

Georgia towns and cities incorporated by acts approved on Aug. 13:

1912 Barrets (Lowndes County), Chauncey (Dodge County), and Crest (Upson County)

August 13, 1913

1913 On the fifteenth day in the trial of Leo Frank, another medical witness was called by the defense. Dr. William Kendrick, head of the Atlanta Medical School, said that Dr. Roy Harris’s conclusions on the time of Phagan’s death were mere guesswork. Another witness testified to having worked the previous Thanksgiving with Frank, and that nothing unusual had happened. Jim Conley had claimed he watched while Frank entertained a woman in his office that day. More character witnesses were called during the afternoon. In cross-examining one of these witnesses, prosecutor Hugh Dorsey asked if he had ever heard complaints about Frank fondling young girls. At this point Mrs. Rae Frank, Leo Frank’s mother, leapt to her feet and shouted at Dorsey "No, nor you either, you dog." One of the defense attorneys escorted Mrs. Frank out of the courtroom.

August 13, 1921

1921 Gov. Thomas Hardwick signed an act striking from the Georgia Code the prohibition on women voting, holding civil office, or performing any civil functions unless specifically authorized by law. The act, however, continued the statutory prohibition on women serving on military, jury, police, patrol, or road duty.

August 13, 1957

1957 John Carson, R.L. (Shorty) Doyal, Harold McNabb, Charles Roberts, Eric Staples, and John (Stumpy) Thomason were inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

August 13, 1962

1962 After having been arrested for attempting to integrate the Holiday Inn in Albany, Ga., three blacks and two whites were convicted of loitering.

August 13, 1980

1980 The National Democratic Convention formally nominated Jimmy Carter for reelection as president.

August 13, 1986

1986 University of Georgia Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker signed a 5-year contract with the National Football League’s Dallas Cowboys worth approximately $1 million per year. Previously, Walker had been a standout for the United States Football League New Jersey Generals.

August 13, 1997

1997 Ground breaking ceremonies were held for the Mall of Georgia at Mill Creek, a 496-acre site in Gwinnett County at the interchange of I-85 and Ga. 20. When completed in 1999, the Mall of Georgia’s enclosed area totalled 1.7 million square feet, making it the largest shopping center in the Southeast.

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JUN
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Today in History

1877 Veteran motion picture actor Charles Coburn was born in Macon, Georgia. Shortly after his birth, his parents moved to Savannah [which is why some sources incorrectly cite Savannah as … read more