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John Forsyth (politician)

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John Forsyth
13th United States Secretary of State
In office
July 1, 1834 – March 4, 1841
PresidentAndrew Jackson
Martin Van Buren
Preceded byLouis McLane
Succeeded byDaniel Webster
33rd Governor of Georgia
In office
November 7, 1827 – November 4, 1829
Preceded byGeorge M. Troup
Succeeded byGeorge R. Gilmer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Georgia's at-large district
In office
March 4, 1813 – November 23, 1818
Preceded byNew appointment
Succeeded byRobert R. Reid
In office
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1827
Preceded byRobert R. Reid
Succeeded byconverted to districts
United States Senator
from Georgia
In office
November 23, 1818 – February 17, 1819
Preceded byGeorge Troup
Succeeded byFreeman Walker
In office
November 9, 1829 – June 27, 1834
Preceded byJohn M. Berrien
Succeeded byAlfred Cuthbert
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
Personal details
Born(1780-10-22)October 22, 1780
Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S.
DiedOctober 21, 1841(1841-10-21) (aged 60)
Washington D.C., U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseClara Meigs Forsyth
Alma materCollege of New Jersey
ProfessionPolitician, Lawyer

John Forsyth, Sr. (October 22, 1780 – October 21, 1841) was a 19th-century American politician from Georgia. He represented Georgia in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Forsyth also served as Governor of Georgia. As a strong supporter of the policies of Andrew Jackson, he was appointed Secretary of State by Jackson in 1834, and continued in that role until 1841 during the presidency of Martin Van Buren.

Early Life

Forsyth was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia. His father Robert Forsyth was the first U.S. Marshal to be killed in the line of duty in 1794.[1] He was an attorney who graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1799. He married Clara Meigs, daughter of Josiah Meigs, in 1801 or 1802. One of his sons, John Forsyth, Jr., later became a newspaper editor.

Political Life

Forsyth served in the United States House of Representatives (1813–1818 and 1823–1827), the United States Senate (1818–1819 and 1829–1834), and as the 33rd Governor of Georgia (1827–1829). He was the United States Secretary of State from 1834 until 1841. In this role he led the government's response to the Amistad case.[2] He was a loyal follower of Andrew Jackson[3] and opposed John C. Calhoun in the issue of nullification. Forsyth was appointed as Secretary of State in reward for his efforts. He led the pro-removal reply to Theodore Frelinghuysen about the Indian Removal Act of 1830.[4][5] He supported slavery and was a slaveholder himself.[6]

Death and Legacy

Forsyth died in Washington, D.C., and was buried in Congressional Cemetery. Forsyth County, Georgia,[7] Forsyth, Georgia,[8] and Forsyth Park[9] in Savannah are named for him.[10] He died the day before his 61st birthday.

Notes

  1. ^ Brown, Russell K. (Fall 2008). "Killed in the Line of Duty: Marshal Robert Harriss, Jr., of Summerville, Georgia". Georgia Historical Quarterly. 92 (3). Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  2. ^ Unger, Harlow G. (2012). John Quincy Adams. Boston: Da Capo Press. p. 292. ISBN 9780306822650. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  3. ^ Howe, Daniel Walker (2007). What Hath God Wrought : The Transformation of America, 1815-1848. Oxford University Press: New York. p. 346. ISBN 9780195078947. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  4. ^ Cheathem, Mark Renfred (2014). Andrew Jackson, Southerner. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. p. 154. ISBN 978-0807150986. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  5. ^ Morris, Michael (Winter 2007). "Georgia and the Conversation over Indian Removal". Georgia Historical Quarterly. 91 (4). Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  6. ^ Finkelman, Paul; Kennon, Donald R. (2010). In the shadow of freedom : the politics of slavery in the national capital. Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-0821419342. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Forsyth County historical marker". Digital Library of Georgia. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  8. ^ "Forsyth historical marker". Digital Library of Georgia. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  9. ^ "Forsyth Park historical marker". Digital Library of Georgia. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  10. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 128.

References

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Georgia's at-large congressional district
March 4, 1813 – November 23, 1818 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Georgia's at-large congressional district
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1827 		Succeeded by
Converted to districts
Preceded by
Redistricted from At Large District
 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Georgia's 2nd congressional district
March 4, 1827 – November 7, 1827 		Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 2) from Georgia
November 23, 1818 – February 17, 1819
Served alongside: Charles Tait 		Succeeded by
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 3) from Georgia
November 9, 1829 – June 27, 1834
Served alongside: George Troup and John P. King 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Minister to Spain
May 18, 1819 – March 2, 1823 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Georgia
1827–1829 		Succeeded by
Preceded by U.S. Secretary of State
Served under: Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren
July 1, 1834 – March 3, 1841 		Succeeded by
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