George Crawford
21stUnited States Secretary of War
In office March 8, 1849 – July 23, 1850
President	Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore
Preceded by	William L. Marcy
Succeeded by	Charles Conrad
38thGovernor of Georgia
In office November 8, 1843 – November 3, 1847
Preceded by	Charles McDonald
Succeeded by	George W. Towns
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromGeorgia'sat-large district
In office January 7, 1843 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	Richard W. Habersham
Succeeded by	Hugh A. Haralson
Attorney General of Georgia
In office 1827–1831
Governor	John Forsyth George Gilmer
Preceded by	Thomas F. Wells
Succeeded by	Charles J. Jenkins
Personal details
Born	George Walker Crawford (1798-12-22)December 22, 1798 Columbia County, Georgia, U.S.
Died	July 27, 1872(1872-07-27) (aged 73) Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
Resting place	Summerville Cemetery
Political party	Whig
Spouse	Mary McIntosh
Children	4
Education	Princeton University(BA) University of Georgia(MA)

George Walker Crawford (December 22, 1798 – July 27, 1872) was a licensedattorney turnedpolitician fromColumbia County, Georgia. Crawford was appointedattorney general for the state in 1827, byGovernorJohn Forsyth, serving in that capacity until 1831. Crawford also served five years in theGeneral Assembly'slower house as a representative ofRichmond County on aplatform ofstates' rights.

George Crawford served in theU.S. House of Representatives, filling the seat vacated byRichard W. Habersham who died while in office. Crawford was elected Georgia's 38thgovernor – serving two terms from 1843 to 1847. He became the onlyWhig Party candidate in state history to occupy theGovernor's Mansion. Crawford then served asUnited States Secretary of War from 1849 to 1850.^[1]

Crawford's time inPresidentZachary Taylor'scabinet was marred by speculation regarding aprobateclaim he settled forGeorge Galphin's heirs. Crawford received agratuity of substantialremuneration for his services' – Crawford's political adversaries framed it as theGalphin Affair – marking the end of Crawford's political aspirations. When President Taylor unexpectedly died while in office, Crawford resigned his position as Secretary of War and entered political retirement.

In 1861, however, Crawford was elected a delegate from Richmond County to the state'sSecession Convention which brought him out of retirement to answer the call of hisconstituents. By the convention's first order of business, Crawford was elected Permanent President of the Convention by which he presided over Georgia's decision to secede from theUnion and join theConfederate States of America.^[2]

George Walker Crawford was born on December 22, 1798, inColumbia County, Georgia. He was the fourth son of Peter and Mary Ann Crawford. His father was aveteran of theAmerican Revolutionary War fromVirginia who had settled in Georgia to claim a land share, known as a bounty grant, which the state of Georgia had set aside for "those who had fought for independence".^[3]

Peter Crawford acquired a sizabletract of land that he called Belair Plantation. Thehomestead was situated close to hisuncle, Joel Crawford. Peter's uncle Joel fatheredWilliam H. Crawford, soon becoming apolitician renowned locally for his political service to the state and for twopresidential bids – running in 1816, and then again in 1824.^[4]

George Crawford grew up on the family's estate, heavily influenced by his father, and hiscousin William as well. George's father was a practicingattorney and George availed himself to the well-stocked personal library of his father whilehomeschooling his education. Peter Crawford also entered Georgia politics himself – beginning as Columbia County's firstclerk of courts and becoming a 10-term representative in thestate legislature.^[3] George Crawford's cousin, William H. Crawford, was also becoming well known for his political service, and was the subject of local legend for two famous duels he had been a principal of.^[5]

George Crawford built on his homeschooling at theCollege of New Jersey'sschool of law (later becomingPrinceton University). Crawford graduated with abachelor's degree in 1820, and subsequently completed aninternship under thetutelage ofRichard Henry Wilde.^[6] Crawford was licensed to practice law in 1822, and started a legal practice inAugusta partnering withHenry H. Cumming. He went on to obtain amaster's degree from theFranklin College of Arts and Sciences, the founding college of theUniversity of Georgia. After graduating Franklin, Crawford served from 1824 to 1825, as asecond lieutenant in the10th Regiment of theGeorgia Militia.^[7]

In 1826, George Crawford married Mary Ann MacIntosh, having four children of the marriage: William Peter, Sarah MacIntosh, Anna Elizabeth, and Charles. George W. Crawford embarked on his political career the following year, accepting agubernatorial appointment to become Georgia's attorney general.^[6]

GovernorJohn Forsyth appointed Crawford to succeed Thomas F. Wells as Georgia'sattorney general in 1827. The following year, Crawford challengedGeorgia state legislator Thomas E. Burnside,Ambrose Burnside's uncle,^[8] to aduel over publisheddefamation Burnside had written about Crawford's father.

When George Crawford read the anonymousletter to the editor published inThe Augusta Chronicle he was incensed by the prose – sharply criticizing the political views of his father, then declining in health. Crawford regarded it as an attack on his father's good name. Crawford demanded the newspaper editor give him the author's name but the editor refused, protecting Burnside's identity by telling Crawford the letter was from a woman, and that for this reason, he would not release the person's name.^[8]

Inexplicably, Burnside contacted Crawford telling him that he was the author. Crawford immediately challenged Burnside to a duel which Burnside accepted, although with reluctance.^[8] Thecode duello was waningin vogue but it was still held as a measure which an honorable man was obliged to endure. Burnside was aspiring his own political career which showed promise ofupward mobility. Burnside felt he would be shamed with dishonor if he refused, and in his era, without honor there was no career in politics.^[8]

Dueling had already been outlawed in Georgia so the twobelligerents, with theirseconds, traveled together by train toFort Mitchell, Alabama where the practice was still legal – to finish what by then had become a "well-publicized fight". Burnside seemed to have sensed the duel would not end in his favor, dispatching a letter to his wife on the eve of the fateful encounter:

Fort Mitchell, Jan. 24, 1828
Dear Wife and Mother:
    Tomorrow I fight. I do it on principle. Whatever may be my fate, I believe I am right. On this ground I have acted and will act. I believe I shall succeed, but if I do not I am prepared for consequences. Kiss the children and tell them that if I fall my last thought was of them. Yours most affectionatelyThomas E. Burnside^[8]

Crawford shot Burnside dead in the infamous duel, prompting the state to pass new legislation; "forbidding persons involved in duels from holding office".^[6] The restriction only applied to duels fought after the law wasenacted and did not affect Crawford's career.^[9] He continued serving as attorney general until 1831, when he was succeeded byCharles J. Jenkins.^[10]

Thomas E. Burnside wasinterred in the private burial ground of ColonelJohn Crowell, renowned for his participation in theWar of 1812. The Colonel lived near the site where the duel had taken place and personally ensured everyprotocol of respect was accorded at Burnside's burial. Two weeks passed before Mrs. Burnside received word of her husband's demise. It was said that she nearly died herself from distraught upon receiving the news.^[8]

She moved with her children toDahlonega, Georgia, residing there until her death. Crawford carried regret for his role in what was called "a deplorable and unfortunate affair".^[6] He was known to have made anonymous financial contributions to Burnside's widow and children^[6] though he was remembered as saying it made no amends – and for having expressedlament shortly before his own death in 1872.^[8]

In 1837, Crawford was elected to theGeorgia General Assembly as a member of theHouse of Representatives for Richmond County.^[11] There, Crawford distinguished himself as a fiscal conservative. He was elevated to theUnited States House of Representatives as aWhig to fill the vacancy caused by the death ofRichard W. Habersham. His term there was short, only serving from January 7 to March 3, 1843.

George W. Crawford was theWhig Party's nominee forgovernor in 1843. Crawford defeated the Democratic nominee,Mark Anthony Cooper, by a vote of 38,813 to 35,325^[6] succeedingCharles J. McDonald to become the first Whig candidate to serve as Georgia's governor (as of 2019, he remains the only Whig governor). The Whigs won a majority in both houses of thestate legislature in 1843, as well. Crawford was reelected in 1845, defeating Democratic challengerMatthew H. McAllister by a margin of 1,751 votes.^[6]

With the legislature's support, Crawford was able to effect the Whig's agenda which focused on debt reduction and fiscal restraint. Crawford's administration was able to reduce expenditures more than $66,000 in its first year and nearly eliminate the state's debt of $500,000 before being succeeded byGeorge W. Towns.^[6] Besides implementing sound budget policy, Crawford was able to expand educational opportunities in the state and hasten construction of the state-ownedWestern and Atlantic Railroad.^[12]

Crawford's administration established theSupreme Court of Georgia as well, which had failed to be institutionalized for decades of previous effort.^[6] He redrew the state's congressional maps, and reformed the state penitentiary – making it "a more economically sound institution". Crawford also succeeded at dismantling theGeorgia Central Bank, an important Whig campaign endeavor for years.

WhenGeneralZachary Taylor becamePresident of the United States in 1849, he appointed CrawfordUnited States Secretary of War. As War Secretary, he was involved in settling a claim from theUnited States government for the Galphin family, descendants ofGeorge Galphin, an American businessman who specialized inIndian Trade. Crawford received a large payment for his services and several of his political foes seized upon the opportunity to suggest impropriety.

Crawford was subsequently investigated by acommission and completelyexonerated of any wrongdoing yet his critics continued casting aspersions.^[6] WhenMillard Fillmore became president after Taylor's sudden death while in office in 1850, Crawford resigned along with the rest of theTaylor administration, rather than work forMillard Fillmore.

In 1861, Crawford was elected as a delegate fromRichmond County, Georgia to the state'sSecession Convention. The delegation elected Crawford president of the convention by a unanimous vote^[6] and he oversaw the state's vote of secession. As the convention's president, Crawford is considered the author of Georgia'sOrdinance of Secession, the official document announcing the state's formal intent to secede the federalUnion – originally as an independentrepublic, ultimately to join theConfederate States of America.

The delegation approved the ordinance January 19, 1861, with 208 voting in favor of secession and 89 opposed. The delegates signed the document in celebratory fashion two days later in thepublic square in front of thestatehouse inMilledgeville where the convention was assembled. Crawford survived to witness the consequences of enacting the ordinance,lamenting its cost in the shed blood of Georgia citizens rallied by the convention's call.

Crawford was to be tried for inciting a rebellion due to his role in presiding over the state's secession and was excluded from eligibility for bothLincoln's andJohnson's amnesty proclamations because of his leadership status. Crawford escaped the harsh consequences of anadjudication of guilt in 1865, when Johnson approved his direct application foramnesty thereby restoring Crawford as a citizen of the United States in good stead – with full protection of his person and property against all forms ofreprisal.^[13]

Crawford died on July 27, 1872, at his Belair estate, located nearAugusta, Georgia. His funeral was held inSt. Paul's Episcopal Church and he was buried inSummerville Cemetery located in Augusta.^[6]

On November 16, 1943, the keel was laid for theSS George Walker Crawford, aliberty ship built by theJ.A. Jones Construction Company inBrunswick, Georgia honoring Crawford for his service to the state of Georgia. The ship was launched January 1, 1944, and delivered into federal service January 13, 1944.^[14]

Crawford's biographer Len Cleveland said that in researching his material he observed that "Crawford's entire political career was motivated by a traditional sense of duty rather than by deep political convictions".^[6]Robert Toombs spoke well of Crawford, Saying, "There are but few abler and no purer men in America, and he has administrative qualities of an unusually high order."^[15]

• List of signers of the Georgia Ordinance of Secession
• Confederate States of America, causes of secession
• "Died of states' rights"

This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "George W. Crawford" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(July 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

• United States Congress."George W. Crawford (id: C000890)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• George W. Crawford at The New Georgia EncyclopediaArchived 2007-09-21 at theWayback Machine
• "Death of Ex-Governor Crawford"Archived 2012-03-06 at theWayback Machine, Federal Union (Milledgeville), August 7, 1872. From theMilledgeville Historic Newspapers Archive, Digital Library of Georgia.
• George W. Crawford atFind a Grave

• 1798 births
• 1872 deaths
• Members of the Georgia House of Representatives
• Governors of Georgia (U.S. state)
• United States secretaries of war
• Georgia (U.S. state) attorneys general
• Georgia (U.S. state) lawyers
• American duellists
• Taylor administration cabinet members
• Whig Party state governors of the United States
• Signers of the Georgia Ordinance of Secession
• Whig Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia (U.S. state)
• Politicians from Augusta, Georgia
• Members of the United States House of Representatives who owned slaves
• 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives
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