Which position did George W. Crawford hold from Mar 1849 to Jul 1850?
George W . Crawford George Walker Crawford ( December 22 , 1798 – July 27 , 1872 ) was a licensed attorney turned politician from Columbia County , Georgia . Crawford was appointed attorney general for the state in 1827 , by Governor John Forsyth , serving in that capacity until 1831 . Crawford also served five years in the General Assemblys lower house as a representative of Richmond County on a platform of states rights . George Crawford served in the U.S . House of Representatives , filling the seat vacated by Richard W . Habersham who died while in office . Crawford was elected Georgias 38th governor – serving two terms from 1843 to 1847 . He became the only Whig Party candidate in state history to occupy the Governors Mansion . Crawford then served as United States Secretary of War from 1849 to 1850 . Crawfords time in President Zachary Taylors cabinet was marred by speculation regarding a probate claim he settled for George Galphins heirs . Crawford received a gratuity of substantial remuneration for his services - Crawfords political adversaries framed it as the Galphin Affair – marking the end of Crawfords political aspirations . When President Taylor unexpectedly died while in office , Crawford resigned his position as Secretary of War and entered political retirement . In 1861 , however , Crawford was elected a delegate from Richmond County to the states Secession Convention which brought him out of retirement to answer the call of his constituents . By the conventions first order of business , Crawford was elected Permanent President of the Convention by which he presided over Georgias decision to secede from the Union and join the Confederate States of America . Early life . George Walker Crawford was born on December 22 , 1798 , in Columbia County , Georgia . He was the fourth son of Peter and Mary Ann Crawford . His father was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War from Virginia who had settled in Georgia to claim a land share , known as a bounty grant , which the state of Georgia had set aside for those who had fought for independence . Peter Crawford acquired a sizable tract of land that he called Belair Plantation . The homestead was situated close to his uncle , Joel Crawford . Peters uncle Joel fathered William H . Crawford , soon becoming a politician renowned locally for his political service to the state and for two presidential bids – running in 1816 , and then again in 1824 . George Crawford grew up on the familys estate , heavily influenced by his father , and his cousin William as well . Georges father was a practicing attorney and George availed himself to the well-stocked personal library of his father while homeschooling his education . Peter Crawford also entered Georgia politics himself – beginning as Columbia Countys first clerk of courts and becoming a 10-term representative in the state legislature . George Crawfords cousin , William H . Crawford , was also becoming well known for his political service , and was the subject of local legend for two famous duels he had been a principal of . George Crawford built on his homeschooling at the College of New Jerseys school of law ( later becoming Princeton University ) . Crawford graduated with a bachelors degree in 1820 , and subsequently completed an internship under the tutelage of Richard Henry Wilde . Crawford was licensed to practice law in 1822 , and started a legal practice in Augusta partnering with Henry H . Cumming . He went on to obtain a masters degree from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences , the founding college of the University of Georgia . After graduating Franklin , Crawford served from 1824 to 1825 , as a second lieutenant in the 10th Regiment of the Georgia Militia . In 1826 , George Crawford married Mary Ann MacIntosh , having four children of the marriage : William Peter , Sarah MacIntosh , Anna Elizabeth , and Charles . George W . Crawford embarked on his political career the following year , accepting a gubernatorial appointment to become Georgias attorney general . Attorney General of Georgia . Governor John Forsyth appointed Crawford to succeed Thomas F . Wells as Georgias attorney general in 1827 . The following year , Crawford challenged Georgia state legislator Thomas E . Burnside , Ambrose Burnsides uncle , to a duel over published defamation Burnside had written about Crawfords father . The code duello . When George Crawford read the anonymous letter to the editor published in The Augusta Chronicle he was incensed by the prose – sharply criticizing the political views of his father , then declining in health . Crawford regarded it as an attack on his fathers good name . Crawford demanded the newspaper editor give him the authors name but the editor refused , protecting Burnsides identity by telling Crawford the letter was from a woman , and that for this reason , he would not release the persons name . Inexplicably , Burnside contacted Crawford telling him that he was the author . Crawford immediately challenged Burnside to a duel which Burnside accepted , although with reluctance . The code duello was waning in vogue but it was still held as a measure which an honorable man was obliged to endure . Burnside was aspiring his own political career which showed promise of upward mobility . Burnside felt he would be shamed with dishonor if he refused , and in his era , without honor there was no career in politics . Dueling had already been outlawed in Georgia so the two belligerents , with their seconds , traveled together by train to Fort Mitchell , Alabama where the practice was still legal – to finish what by then had become a well-publicized fight . Burnside seemed to have sensed the duel would not end in his favor , dispatching a letter to his wife on the eve of the fateful encounter:Fort Mitchell , Jan . 24 , 1828Dear Wife and Mother : Tomorrow I fight . I do it on principle . Whatever may be my fate , I believe I am right . On this ground I have acted and will act . I believe I shall succeed , but if I do not I am prepared for consequences . Kiss the children and tell them that if I fall my last thought was of them . Yours most affectionatelyThomas E . Burnside Crawford shot Burnside dead in the infamous duel , prompting the state to pass new legislation ; forbidding persons involved in duels from holding office . The restriction only applied to duels fought after the law was enacted and did not affect Crawfords career . He continued serving as attorney general until 1831 , when he was succeeded by Charles J . Jenkins . Thomas E . Burnside was interred in the private burial ground of Colonel John Crowell , renowned for his participation in the War of 1812 . The Colonel lived near the site where the duel had taken place and personally ensured every protocol of respect was accorded at Burnsides burial . Two weeks passed before Mrs . Burnside received word of her husbands demise . It was said that she nearly died herself from distraught upon receiving the news . She moved with her children to Dahlonega , Georgia , residing there until her death . Crawford carried regret for his role in what was called a deplorable and unfortunate affair . He was known to have made anonymous financial contributions to Burnsides widow and children though he was remembered as saying it made no amends – and for having expressed lament shortly before his own death in 1872 . Congressman . In 1837 , Crawford was elected to the Georgia General Assembly as a member of the House of Representatives for Richmond County . There , Crawford distinguished himself as a fiscal conservative . He was elevated to the United States House of Representatives as a Whig to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Richard W . Habersham . His term there was short , only serving from January 7 to March 3 , 1843 . Governor of Georgia . George W . Crawford was the Whig Partys nominee for governor in 1843 . Crawford defeated the Democratic nominee , Mark Anthony Cooper , by a vote of 38,813 to 35,325 succeeding Charles J . McDonald to become the first Whig candidate to serve as Georgias governor ( as of 2019 , he remains the only Whig governor ) . The Whigs won a majority in both houses of the state legislature in 1843 , as well . Crawford was reelected in 1845 , defeating Democratic challenger Matthew H . McAllister by a margin of 1,751 votes . With the legislatures support , Crawford was able to effect the Whigs agenda which focused on debt reduction and fiscal restraint . Crawfords administration was able to reduce expenditures more than $66,000 in its first year and nearly eliminate the states debt of $500,000 before being succeeded by George W . Towns . Besides implementing sound budget policy , Crawford was able to expand educational opportunities in the state and hasten construction of the state-owned Western and Atlantic Railroad . Crawfords administration established the Supreme Court of Georgia as well , which had failed to be institutionalized for decades of previous effort . He redrew the states congressional maps , and reformed the state penitentiary – making it a more economically sound institution . Crawford also succeeded at dismantling the Georgia Central Bank , an important Whig campaign endeavor for years . Secretary of War . When General Zachary Taylor became President of the United States in 1849 , he appointed Crawford United States Secretary of War . As War Secretary , he was involved in settling a claim from the United States government for the Galphin family , descendants of George Galphin , an American businessman who specialized in Indian Trade . Crawford received a large payment for his services and several of his political foes seized upon the opportunity to suggest impropriety . Crawford was subsequently investigated by a commission and completely exonerated of any wrongdoing yet his critics continued casting aspersions . Crawford resigned along with the rest of the Taylor administration in 1850 , when Millard Fillmore became president after Taylors sudden death while in office . Georgia Secession Convention . In 1861 , Crawford was elected as a delegate from Richmond County , Georgia to the states Secession Convention . The delegation elected Crawford president of the convention by a unanimous vote and he oversaw the states vote of secession . As the conventions president , Crawford is considered the author of Georgias Ordinance of Secession , the official document announcing the states formal intent to secede the federal Union – originally as an independent republic , ultimately to join the Confederate States of America . The delegation approved the ordinance January 19 , 1861 , with 208 voting in favor of secession and 89 opposed . The delegates signed the document in celebratory fashion two days later in the public square in front of the statehouse in Milledgeville where the convention was assembled . Crawford survived to witness the consequences of enacting the ordinance , lamenting its cost in the shed blood of Georgia citizens rallied by the conventions call . Crawford was to be tried for inciting a rebellion due to his role in presiding over the states secession and was excluded from eligibility for both Lincolns and Johnsons amnesty proclamations because of his leadership status . Crawford escaped the harsh consequences of an adjudication of guilt in 1865 , when Johnson approved his direct application for amnesty thereby restoring Crawford as a citizen of the United States in good stead – with full protection of his person and property against all forms of reprisal . Death and legacy . Crawford died on July 27 , 1872 , at his Belair estate , located near Augusta , Georgia . His funeral was held in St . Pauls Episcopal Church and he was buried in Summerville Cemetery located in Augusta . On November 16 , 1943 , the keel was laid for the SS George Walker Crawford , a liberty ship built by the J.A . Jones Construction Company in Brunswick , Georgia honoring Crawford for his service to the state of Georgia . The ship was launched January 1 , 1944 , and delivered into federal service January 13 , 1944 . Crawfords biographer Len Cleveland said that in researching his material he observed that Crawfords entire political career was motivated by a traditional sense of duty rather than by deep political convictions . Robert Toombs spoke well of Crawford , Saying , There are but few abler and no purer men in America , and he has administrative qualities of an unusually high order .