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Military Service: Army

War(s) Served:  Revolutionary War

JARED IRWIN, Georgia's fourth and ninth governor, was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1750 (exact date unknown). After settling in Georgia, he became a dedicated patriot in the American Revolution. He led a Georgia militia unit against the Creek Indians, defending the Georgia border. Irwin entered politics in 1789 as a member to the convention that amended the state constitution. After being elected by the state legislature, Irwin was sworn into the governor's office on January 15, 1796. During his tenure, he was against the Yazoo Law of 1795, signing into law, legislation that overturned the earlier ruling, which had been sanctioned by a dishonest legislature. Irwin finished his term on January 12, 1798, and continued to stay active in his political career. He served as president of the 1798 state constitutional convention, and was president of the Georgia Senate in 1806. On September 23, 1806, Governor John Milledge resigned from office, and Irwin, who was president of the senate at the time, assumed the duties of the governor's office. After finishing Milledge's term, Irwin was reelected to a second term as governor. During his second administration, the state was challenged with bankruptcy woes due to restrictions that were placed on cotton and tobacco, and because the Bank of the United States had begun to recollect on outstanding loans. Legislation was enacted that helped to relieve debtors, which allowed for one-third of the loan to be paid when due and for the balance to be paid within an allotted extension. After leaving office on November 10, 1809, Irwin served several more terms in the Georgia Senate. Governor Jared Irwin died in Union Hill, Georgia, on March 1, 1818.

Sources:

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 1, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.

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