George W. Towns

American politician (1801–1854)

George Washington Bonaparte Towns (May 4, 1801 – July 15, 1854) was a United States lawyer, legislator, and politician. He served in the United States House of Representatives on three occasions and was the 39th Governor of Georgia from 1847 to 1851.

Towns was born in Wilkes County, Georgia to Margaret George Hardwick and John Towns in 1801. His parents were Virginians who had moved to Georgia and settled in Wilkes County. Shortly after his birth, the Towns family moved throughout Georgia, where he received a small preparatory education. He then began to study medicine in Eatonton, but after his studies were interrupted by an injury, he moved to Montgomery, Alabama, which had recently joined the Union. There, he studied law and, in 1824 was admitted to the Montgomery bar.

As time went by, Towns continued to gain prominence and in 1826 acquired the Alabama Journal newspaper. During that same year he married his first wife, Margaret Jane Campbell, whose poor health led to her death several days after the marriage ceremony. Following the death of his wife, Towns moved back to Georgia and settled in Talbot County. In 1828, Towns became one of the original town commissioners of Talbotton, where he also established a law office. During this period Towns served as colonel in the 65th Regiment of the Georgia Militia.

Towns began his 22 year political career in 1829 as a strong Unionist and opponent of nullification in the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia Senate. He was subsequently elected to the United States House of Representatives on three occasions. He served a partial term in the House from 1835 to 1836 and a full term from 1837 to 1839. He served a third term from 1846 to 1847. He served as the 39th Governor of Georgia from 1847 to 1851. On September 23, 1850, Towns asked the General Assembly to allow a special election to send delegates to a state convention to pass judgment on the Compromise of 1850. Towns’ wife, Mary Winston Jones Towns, was the daughter of John Winston Jones, who served as Speaker of the U. S. House from 1843 to 1845. Towns and Jones served concurrently in the House for a time.

Towns died in Macon, Georgia on July 15, 1854, and is interred at the Rose Hill Cemetery in that town. Towns County, Georgia is named in his honor.