August 24, 1721

1721 Henry Ellis -- Georgia’s second royal governor -- was born in Ireland. After a career at sea, Ellis was appointed to replace John Reynolds as Georgia’s royal governor after Reynolds resigned. Ellis arrived in Georgia on Feb. 16, 1757. However, he found the colony’s heat excessive and requested to be relieved of his appointment. In October 1760, James Wright arrived in Savannah to become Georgia’s third and last royal governor. Ellis returned to England, after which he traveled extensively in Europe. He died on Jan. 21, 1806 in Naples, Italy.

August 24, 1871

1871 Famous Georgia educator Steadman V. Sanford was born in Covington, Georgia. After obtaining a B.A. from Mercer University in 1890, he served as a teacher, high school principal, and later superintendent of Marietta’s school system. In 1903, became an adjunct English professor at the University of Georgia. In 1912, he took a year of graduate work at the University of Berlin, followed by a summer at Oxford. In 1913, he returned to the University of Georgia as a full professor, and in 1914 was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university. In 1921, he founded the Henry Grady School of Journalism and served as its dean until 1927, when he became dean of the university. As dean, he pushed for a larger football stadium for the University of Georgia, which appropriately was named for him upon completion in 1929. From 1932 to 1935, he served as president of the University of Georgia, and from 1935 until his death in 1945, he served as chancellor of the University System of Georgia.

August 24, 1903

1903 Lawyer Charles H. Smith, better known as humorist "Bill Arp", died in Cartersville, Georgia. Born in Lawrenceville in 1826, Smith attended the University of Georgia and studied law under a judge. In 1851, he moved to Rome, Georgia. Thereafter, he served on the Rome city council and later as mayor. During the Civil War, he performed special judicial service for the Confederacy in Macon. His political career also included a term in the Georgia Senate. Though an attorney, Smith became famous for a series of more than 2,000 humorous newspaper columns about life in the South by a backwoods philosopher known as Bill Arp.

August 24, 1905

Georgia towns and cities incorporated by acts approved on August 24:

1905 Bogart (Oconee County), Hull (Madison County), Jersey (Walton County), Millwood (Ware County), Pulaski (Bulloch County), and Rossville (Walker County)

August 24, 1931

1931 The Georgia General Assembly adopted a joint resolution authorizing the governor to appoint a 12-member committee to plan for Georgia’s bicentennial in 1933. The resolution further authorized the committee to have prepared a bronze tablet with the seal of Georgia and the bust of James Oglethorpe to be presented to England at Westminster Abbey in London.

August 24, 1931

1931 The Georgia General Assembly adopted a joint resolution requiring state agencies to give preference to Georgia products when purchasing all of their supplies.

August 24, 1945

1945 Following the death of Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the U.S. Post Office issued a 2-cent FDR commemorative stamp showing the Little White House and an oval portrait of Roosevelt. First day of issue ceremonies were held in Warm Springs, Georgia. The stamp was part of a series of four stamps marking Roosevelt’s death.

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Today in History

1864 With Johnston’s Confederate forces having retreated across the Etowah River, Sherman decided to take a short break in order to resupply his army from Chattanooga. Thus began a three-day … read more