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Today in History
1976 In caucus voting in Virginia, Jimmy Carter picked up 24 delegates in his bid to win the Democratic nomination for the presidency. Morris Udall won 7, while the remaining … read more
March 5, 1727
1727 Military leader Lachlan McIntosh was born in Badenoch, Scotland. McIntosh’s family was part of the group of Scot Highlanders who settled Darien along Georgia’s southern frontier in 1736. He took part in the defense of Savannah against the British in March of 1776, then returned to his home to defend Georgia’s southern and western frontier. Though McIntosh tried to stay out of the political squabbles of his time, his need for supplies forced him to deal with some of the major political figures in Georgia. One of these was Button Gwinnett, with whom McIntosh and his brother George had long standing differences. So fierce was the rivalry that it led to a duel between McIntosh and Gwinnett in May 1777, which left Gwinnett dead and McIntosh wounded. Upon recovering, McIntosh joined George Washington’s army at Valley Forge. Washington later appointed McIntosh commander of the Western Department of the war. McIntosh established two forts in the Ohio River Valley, which gave American claims to the land legitimacy. When he heard Savannah had fallen to the British, McIntosh received permission to return home. He joined the Continental Army in South Carolina and took part in the defense of Charleston. When the city fell, McIntosh was taken prisoner for the duration of the war. Upon his release in 1781, he found his personal finances in shambles and his reputation tarnished (as he had been relieved of command by the Continental Congress because of Gwinnett’s death). McIntosh spent the remainder of his life trying to rectify these two problems; he had little success financially, but did receive public vindication for his role in Gwinnett’s death and his performance during the war. He died in Savannah on Feb. 20, 1806.
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March 5, 1735
1735 In London, James Oglethorpe met with the other Trustees and presented his proposed budget and military plan for Georgia. He argued that Georgia could no longer survive based on charity but needed a £25,800 appropriation from Parliament. With this sum, Oglethorpe proposed defending Georgia against a Spanish land invasion by building a chain of 20 forts along the Altamaha River. Two forts would have 80 defenders each, while 18 smaller forts would each have 40 soldiers.
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March 5, 1754
1754 The British Board of Trade, overseeing Georgia’s transition from a Trustee to a royal colony, proposed a new form of government for Georgia - including a royal governor and the colony’s first real legislative body.
March 5, 1883
1883 James Stoddard Boynton, president of the Georgia Senate, became governor following the death of Gov. Alexander Stephens the previous day. [See Dec. 22 entry for biographical information.]
March 5, 1964
1964 Atlanta mayor Ivan Allen Jr. announced that if the city would build a stadium, an unnamed Major League Baseball team would move move to Atlanta in 1965. That team was the Milwaukee Braves.
March 5, 1969
1969 Ruth Eiseman-Schier was arrested for her part in the kidnapping of Barbara Jane Mackle on Dec. 17, 1968. She had been the first woman to appear of the FBI’s "Ten Most Wanted" list.
March 5, 1977
1977 Pres. Jimmy Carter participated in the first-ever "Dial-a-President" radio broadcast in which he answered questions called in from listeners across the United States. The CBS special radio program was hosted by Walter Cronkite.
March 5, 1997
1997 Palestine Liberation Organization president Yasser Arafat visited former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Plains, GA.
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Savannah, GA 31401
Tel 912.651.2125
Fax 912.651.2831
Toll Free 877.424.4789
Library & Archives: 912.651.2128
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