Houstoun, John, 1744-1796

<p>John Houstoun (/ˈhoʊstən/ HOU-stən; August 31, 1744 – July 20, 1796) was an American lawyer and statesman from Savannah, Georgia. He was one of the original Sons of Liberty and also a delegate for Georgia in the Second Continental Congress in 1775. He was the Governor of Georgia, in 1778, and again in 1784–1785.</p>

<p>John was born to aristocratic Scots immigrants in St. George's Parish, near modern Waynesboro and the eastern border of Georgia. His parents were Sir Patrick (Baronet) and Priscilla (Dunbar) Houstoun. His father served as the registrar of land grants for the Georgia Colony and the collector of quit-rents (a permanent annual tax on each grant). John was educated in Savannah and read law there. He was admitted to the bar and started a law practice in Savannah.</p>

<p>Houstoun married Hannah Bryan, whose father Jonathan was a wealthy Savannah merchant. They built their home, White Bluff, about nine miles (14 km) northwest of Savannah. The couple had no children.</p>

HOUSTOUN, John, a Delegate from Georgia; born in Waynesboro, Ga., August 31, 1744; attended the common schools; studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Savannah, Ga.; one of the four originators of the ``Sons of Liberty''; delegate to the Provincial Congress of Georgia in 1775; Member of the Continental Congress in 1775; member of the executive council in 1777; Governor of Georgia in 1778 and 1784; member of the commission to establish the boundary line between Georgia and South Carolina; chief justice of Georgia in 1786; unsuccessful candidate for Governor in 1787; justice for Chatham County in 1787; mayor of Savannah in 1789 and 1790; judge of the State superior court in 1792; died at ``White Bluff,'' near Savannah, Ga., July 20, 1796.

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>12/31/1784 GA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1783 GA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1774 GA Continental Congress Won 100.00%(+100.00%)</li>
</ul>