From Colony to Statehood
Arthur Fort of Twiggs County (1750 - 1833)
B: July 14, 1787 in Burke County, Georgia
The following is an excerpt from Milledgeville: Georgia's Antebellum Capital by James Bonner:
"Tomlinson Fort was with little doubt the most prominent of Milledgeville's early citizens. The son of Arthur Fort (1750- 1833) and the former Susanna Tomlinson, he became not only one of the more distinguished physicians of the state but also a leading figure in politics, banking, and educational development. When Fort returned from Washington in 1829, after serving a term in Congress, the old Troup-Clark Factionalism was dying out. This factionalism which had resulted in a long and bitter political feud for more than two decades, was based largely on personal and family loyalties. Because no newspaper in the state capital was now supporting the old Clark faction, Fort purchased the Federal Union and made Clarkite John Polhill its editor. It became a leading Jacksonian and Unionist newspaper and opposed the states rights doctrine which had become the trademark of the old Troup faction."
The following is a quote from the book John Porter Fort:
"My father studied medicine at the Philadelphia Medical College under the famous Dr. Rush. He returned to Georgia settling at Milledgeville, then the capital of the State. He represented his county twelve years in the State legislature, and his district two years in Congress. He was for years president of the State Bank and trustee of the University of Georgia. He then retired from political life. Had he lived until the Civil War I am sure that he would have opposed secession. He was strong for the Union, and much opposed to Negro slavery."
"He was a quiet, grave man of great sobriety and learning, and for general information I have never met his equal. He had the confidence of all that knew him, the love of family and friends. He was a most kind and sympathetic father. He was the greatest man I have ever known." (page 7)
