William Stephens (governor of Georgia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Stephens
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| Governor of Georgia | |
| In office 1743–1751 |
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| Monarch | George II |
| Preceded by | James Oglethorpe |
| Succeeded by | Henry Parker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 January 1671 Isle of Wight, England |
| Died | 1753 Georgia |
| Profession | Statesman |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
William Stephens (born January 28, 1671 – died 1753) was an English politician. He came from the Isle of Wight, England. Later, he moved to Savannah, Georgia. He served in the English Parliament from 1702 to 1727. After moving to America, he became the governor of the Province of Georgia from 1743 to 1751.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Stephens was born on the Isle of Wight in England. His father, also named William Stephens, was a lieutenant governor there. Young William went to the Winchester School and then to King's College, Cambridge. He studied law but did not become a lawyer.
In 1696, he married Mary Newdigate. They had nine children together. When his father passed away in 1697, William inherited family lands. However, these lands had many debts.
A Career in Politics
William Stephens started his political career in England. In 1702, he was elected to the House of Commons. This is like being a representative in the government. He represented the area of Newport (Isle of Wight). He was part of the Tory party.
He was re-elected several times. During his time in Parliament, he often voted with his party. He also worked to expose problems in the government. In 1712, he got a job helping to supply the navy. This job paid him £500 a year.
When King George I came to power in 1714, William Stephens lost his government job. He continued to serve in Parliament until 1727. After that, he faced serious money troubles. He sold his property and moved away for a while. Friends helped him find a new job in Scotland.
Moving to Georgia
In 1736, William Stephens moved to America. He went to the Province of Carolina. Soon after, he became involved with the new colony of Georgia.
The first settlers arrived in Georgia in 1733. They were led by James Oglethorpe. At first, everyone was very hopeful about the new colony. But the people in charge, called the Trustees, became worried. They felt Oglethorpe wasn't sending enough reports. So, they decided to send William Stephens to Georgia. His job was to be the secretary for the Trustees.
Leading the Colony
William Stephens arrived in Savannah, Georgia, on November 1, 1737. His first task was to help solve arguments among the colonists. He worked hard in this role for several years.
In October 1741, he was appointed president of Georgia. He attended almost every meeting of the leaders. He truly cared about the colony's progress. He served as president until 1750.
Later Years and Legacy
By 1750, William Stephens was almost 80 years old. His health was not good, and his colleagues felt it was time for him to retire. The Trustees handed over the leadership of Georgia to Henry Parker. Stephens officially held the title of president until April 1751.
After retiring, William Stephens moved to his plantation called Beaulieu. He lived there with his son, Newdigate. He passed away in 1753 due to old age. William Stephens played an important role in the early history of Georgia.
