462 OGLETHORPE COUNTY. 



access to a complete account of this distinguished personage 

 that we give the following particulars. The founder of the 

 colony of Georgia was the son of Sir Theophilus Oglethorpe, 

 and was born in London on the 21st of December, 1688. 

 At the age of sixteen, he was admitted a student of Corpus 

 Christi College, but it does not appear that he finished his 

 studies, the military profession having more charms for him 

 than literary pursuits. His first commission was that of 

 Ensign. In 1714, he was Captain Lieutenant in the Guardil 

 of Queen Anne. After her death he withdrew from the 

 British army, and took service with Prince Eugene, and was 

 with him when he crossed the Danube, and defeated the 

 Grand Vizier Ali at Peterwaradin, in 1716; and also in the 

 following year, when Eugene besieged and took Belgrade. 

 On these occasions his active services gained him the appro- 

 bation of his commander. Shortly afterwards he returned to 

 England, and at twenty-four years of age he was brought into 

 Parliament from Hashmere, in Surrey ; and he continued to 

 represent that borough by successive elections for thirty-two 

 years, during which time he distinguished himself by several 

 able speeches : and in the laws for the benefit of trade many 

 salutary regulations were proposed and promoted by him. In 

 Parliament he introduced a motion " that an inquiry should 

 be instituted into the state of the jails in the metropolis. A 

 committee was appointed to attend to this matter, of which 

 he was chairman ; and it is said " that the eflTects of this 

 interposition have been felt ever since by the unhappy 

 prisoners."' In 1732, he made an effort in Parliament to restore 

 a constitutional militia, and to abolish arbitrary impressment 

 of seamen. As a member of the British Parliament, he was 

 always found on the side of justice and humanity. In the 

 year 1732, Oglethorpe planned a colony, unlike any other 

 that had its origin among men. Twenty-one gentlemen, con- 

 curring with his views, petitioned the king for a grant of lands 

 in South Carolina, and liberty to lay out such charities as 

 they themselves should give, or receive from others, in con- 

 veying over and establishing unfortunate families in America ; 

 and that the charity collected may not terminate in the per- 

 sons first relieved, but extend itself to the latest posterity. 



