James Habersham Jr.

James Habersham Jr. (1745 – July 2, 1799) was an American merchant and Speaker of the Georgia General Assembly in 1782 and 1784.[2]

James Habersham Jr.
Born1745
Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
Died(1799-07-02)2 July 1799 (aged 53)[1]
Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupationslave merchant
plantation owner
Known forSpeaker of the Georgia General Assembly

Early life

Habersham was born in Savannah, Georgia, in 1745, the son of James and Mary Habersham. He was the youngest brother of Joseph Habersham and John Habersham, who were prominent Patriots in the American Revolution. For his part, James provided political and financial service. Habersham attended College of New Jersey (18th Century) (now Princeton), but did not graduate. He is believed to be the first Georgian to attend the college.[3]

Habersham was married to Hester Habersham (née Wylly)[4] (d. 1808), who was born in Ireland.

Career

Although, according to his father, James Jr. was a "gentleman that is not overly fond of business", he formed an import company with his cousin Joseph Clay.[3] African slaves were a "particularly profitable" cargo for the duo's firm. During the 1760s, it brought hundreds of slaves to Savannah, with some being advertised as being "direct from the River Gambia.[3][5]

Habersham owned plantations on both the Savannah River and Broad River in South Carolina.[4]

Habersham also served on the board of trustees, created in 1785, to establish the University of Georgia.

Habersham House

In 1789, construction was completed of Habersham House (now The Olde Pink House) in Savannah's Reynolds Square.[6] Habersham lived there until his death on July 2, 1799.[7][8] He is buried in Savannah's Colonial Park Cemetery.

References
  1. The Georgians: Genealogies of Pioneer Settlers (Jeannette Holland Austin)
  2. Joseph Habersham (1751-1815); John Habersham (1754-1799); James Habersham, Jr. (1745-1799) - Georgia Historical Society, June 16, 2014
  3. "Savannah's Slave Traders - Princeton University
  4. Scots-Irish Migration to the Bahamas in the Eighteenth Century (Keith Tinker & Colin Brooker)
  5. Newspaper clipping of Habersham and Clay's advertisement dated October 28, 1766
  6. "Habersham house, 25 Abercorn Street, Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia" - Library of Congress
  7. The Olde Pink House history - www.theoldepinkhouse.com
  8. The Olde Pink House: James Habersham’s real resting place - SavannahNow.com, October 23, 2008
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