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John Forsyth
John Forsyth US Secretary of State.jpg
13th United States Secretary of State
In office
July 1, 1834 – March 4, 1841
President Andrew Jackson
Martin Van Buren
Preceded by Louis McLane
Succeeded by Daniel Webster
United States Senator
from Georgia
In office
November 9, 1829 – June 27, 1834
Preceded by John M. Berrien
Succeeded by Alfred Cuthbert
In office
November 23, 1818 – February 17, 1819
Preceded by George Troup
Succeeded by Freeman Walker
33rd Governor of Georgia
In office
November 7, 1827 – November 4, 1829
Preceded by George Troup
Succeeded by George Gilmer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Georgia's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1827 – November 7, 1827
Preceded by Constituency reestablished
Succeeded by Richard Henry Wilde
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Georgia's at-large district
In office
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1827
Preceded by Robert R. Reid
Succeeded by Districts established
In office
March 4, 1813 – November 23, 1818
Preceded by Seat established
Succeeded by Robert R. Reid
United States Minister to Spain
In office
May 18, 1819 – March 2, 1823
President James Monroe
Preceded by George W. Erving
Succeeded by Hugh Nelson
12th Attorney General of Georgia
In office
1808–1811
Governor Jared Irwin
David Mitchell
Preceded by John Hamil
Succeeded by Alexander Allen
Personal details
Born (1780-10-22)October 22, 1780
Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S.
Died October 21, 1841(1841-10-21) (aged 60)
Washington D.C., U.S.
Political party Democratic-Republican (before 1825)
Democratic (1825–1841)
Education College of New Jersey (BA)
(renamed Princeton)
Signature

John Forsyth Sr. (October 22, 1780 – October 21, 1841) was a 19th-century American politician from Georgia. He represented the state in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and also served as the 33rd Governor of Georgia. As a supporter of the policies of President Andrew Jackson, Forsyth was appointed the 13th United States Secretary of State by Jackson in 1834, and continued in that role until 1841 during the presidency of Martin Van Buren. He also served as US Minister to Spain during the presidency of James Monroe.

Early life

Forsyth was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia. His father, Robert Forsyth, a Scottish immigrant, was the first U.S. Marshal to be killed in the line of duty in 1794. 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. He was a loyal follower of Andrew Jackson 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. He supported slavery and was a slaveholder himself.

Death and legacy

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

In popular culture

See also

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