Tomlinson Fort (congressman)

Tomlinson Fort
Tomlinson Fort
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; from Georgia's 6th district
	In office; March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1829
Preceded by	district created
Succeeded by	Howell Cobb
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
	In office; 1818–1826
Personal details
Born	July 14, 1787; Warrenton, Georgia
Died	May 11, 1859 (aged 71); Milledgeville, Georgia
Resting place	City Cemetery
Political party	Jacksonian
Relatives	Edwin Jemison (great-nephew)
Occupation	Physician, banker
Military service
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	War of 1812

Tomlinson Fort (July 14, 1787 – May 11, 1859) was a medical doctor, politician, and banker in the state of Georgia during the first half of the nineteenth century. He was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives and United States House of Representatives from Georgia.

Early years and education

Fort was born in Warrenton, Georgia on July 14, 1787.^[1] He completed preparatory studies and then embarked on the study of medicine. In 1809, he received one term of medical training at the Philadelphia Medical College, and commenced practice in 1810. It was a medical career which eventually spanned four decades.^[1] Shortly after taking up the practice of medicine, during the War of 1812, Fort enlisted in a volunteer company of Georgia Militia, and was elected captain.

Political career

Fort was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives for four terms, from 1818 to 1826.^[2] During his tenure in the State Legislature, he was instrumental in the formation of the Medical College of Georgia, and the state lunatic asylum in Milledgeville.^[1] He was elected as a Jacksonian candidate to the 20th United States Congress and served one term from March 4, 1827, to March 3, 1829.^[3]

Later years

He resumed the practice of medicine in Milledgeville, Georgia. He was president of the Central Bank of Georgia for almost a decade, during which time he helped finance construction of the Western and Atlantic Railroad.^[1] Tomlinson Fort died on May 11, 1859, in Milledgeville. He is buried in the City Cemetery.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "This Day in Georgia History – July 14, 1787". Digital Library of Georgia – New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
^ "Georgia's Official Register 1967–1968" (PDF). State of Georgia – Department of Archives and History. p. 1266. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
^ "Georgia's Official Register 1967–1968" (PDF). State of Georgia – Department of Archives and History. p. 929. Retrieved May 15, 2018.

United States Congress. "Tomlinson Fort (id: F000289)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Roberts, William C. (1968). "Tomlinson Fort of Milledgeville, Georgia: Physician and Statesman". Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences. 23 (2): 131–152. doi:10.1093/jhmas/xxiii.2.131. JSTOR 24623906. PMID 4870786.

External links

Tomlinson Fort at Find a Grave
Tomlinson Fort House historical marker

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by George Cary	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's at-large congressional district March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1829	Succeeded by Henry Graybill Lamar