Publisher
Collection on William Harris Crawford, MS 186, Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.

Date of Original
1814/1833

Subject
Chauncey, Isaac, 1772-1840
Clark, John, 1766-1832
Clay, Henry, 1777-1852
Crawford, William Harris, 1772-1834
Davis, Matthew L., (Matthew Livingston), 1773-1850
Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849
Georgia--Political activity--19th century
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
Madison, James, 1751-1836
Monroe, James, 1758-1831
Oglethorpe County (Ga.)
Presidential candidates--Georgia--1824
Railroads
Slavery--United States
United States--History--War of 1812--Treaties
United States. Department of the Treasury--19th century

Location
United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018

Medium
personal papers

Type
Text

Description
This collection consists of materials focusing on Crawford's political career. The correspondence in the collection includes both letters written to and from Crawford. Noteworthy letter authors in the William Harris Crawford Papers include Henry Clay, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, and Matthew L. Davis (an author and journalist who was on hand to support Aaron Burr during his 1804 duel with Alexander Hamilton)., William Harris Crawford (1772-1834) was the son of Joel and Fanny Harris Crawford. He was an educator, lawyer, politician, and planter. Early in his career, he taught at Richmond Academy in Augusta (1796-1798) and created a law practice while becoming involved in Georgia politics. As a result of his involvement in local politics, Crawford frequently met opposition from John Clarke (1766-1832), governor of Georgia (1819-1832) and son of Revolutionary War hero Elijah Clarke. This rivalry resulted in two duels. A victorious Crawford killed Clarke champion Peter Van Allen in 1802, but an 1806 duel with John Clarke himself left Crawford with a permanently damaged wrist. Crawford's career survived both of these episodes. Crawford was elected a member of the Georgia House of Representatives in 1803, a position he would hold until 1807. He also served the United States as Senator from Georgia (1807-1813), Minister to France (1813-1815), Secretary of War (1815), and Secretary of the Treasury (1816-1825). In 1824, Crawford was a candidate for the presidency along with Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, and John Quincy Adams. Adams was named president by the House of Representatives. Ill health forced Crawford to return to Georgia around 1825, where he served as Circuit Court Judge until his death near Elberton, Georgia in 1834. Crawford married Susanna Gerardin in 1804, a union which produced nine children. He and his family resided at Woodlawn, a plantation near Lexington, Georgia.

Metadata URL
http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/CollectionsA-Z/186_search.html

Language
eng

Holding Institution
Georgia Historical Society

Rights