Greensboro in Greene County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Governor Peter Early

1773-1817

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2024

1. Governor Peter Early Marker

Inscription. Peter Early served as Georgia governor from 1813 to 1815, during the War of 1812 with Great Britain and the Creek War of 1813-1814. Born in Virginia in 1773, he graduated from Princeton and moved to Georgia in 1795 to practice law, settling in Greene County in 1800. He served as U.S. Congressman, Superior Court judge, state senator, and trustee of the University of Georgia. As governor, Early supported Andrew Jackson's federal military campaign against the Creeks, forcing them to cede 22 million acres separating southern Georgia from Florida. Removal of the Creeks enlarged the state's boundaries, eventually expanding both cotton production and slavery. Early died on August 15, 1817, and was buried on his plantation near Scull Shoals. His family moved his remains here to the Greensboro City Cemetery in 1914. Early County is named in his memory.

Erected 2017 by Georgia Historical Society. (Marker Number 066-6.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • War of 1812 • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included

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in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1773.

Location. 33° 34.89′ N, 83° 10.853′ W. Marker is in Greensboro, Georgia, in Greene County. It can be reached from Memorial Drive west of North East Street, on the left when traveling west. Marker is in Greensboro City Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 104 East Richland Ave, Greensboro GA 30642, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Antebellum Trail

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Peter Early (here, next to this marker); The Mounger Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Gwyn Allison (within shouting

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2024

2. Governor Peter Early Marker

distance of this marker); Dr. Thaddeus Brockett Rice (within shouting distance of this marker); Mary Irving (within shouting distance of this marker); Josiah Davis (within shouting distance of this marker); Unknown Confederate Dead (within shouting distance of this marker); Greene County Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greensboro.

Also see . . . Peter Early. Peter Early served as governor of Georgia at the height of the Creek War of 1813-14. His administration’s enthusiastic backing of federal military expeditions on this “other front” of the War of 1812 (1812-15) enlarged and secured Georgia’s frontier by hastening the Indians’ removal, thus fostering the state’s nineteenth-century transition from an undeveloped frontier to a “cotton kingdom.” (Keith Hulett, University of Georgia Libraries; via New Georgia Encyclopedia) (Submitted on March 7, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Grave of Gov.Peter Early image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2024

3. Grave of Gov.Peter Early

Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 149 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 7, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.