Howly, Richard, 1740-1784

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>12/31/1780 GA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
</ul>

HOWLY, Richard, a Delegate from Georgia; born in Liberty County, Ga., in 1740; pursued an academic course; studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in St. John's Parish, Georgia; also engaged in the planting of rice; moved to St. Paul's Parish in 1779; member of the State house of representatives 1779-1783; member of the executive council of Liberty County in 1779 and 1780; Governor of Georgia in 1780; Member of the Continental Congress in 1780 and 1781; practiced law in Sunbury, Ga.; chosen chief justice of Georgia and served from October 1, 1782, to January 3, 1783; moved to Savannah, Ga., and died there in December 1784.

<b>Richard Howly</b><br>
<b>BIRTH</b> 1740<br>
<b>DEATH</b> Dec 1784 (aged 43–44)<br>
Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, USA<br>
<b>BURIAL</b><br>
Colonial Park Cemetery<br>
Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, USA

<p>Richard Howly (1740 – December 1784), sometimes spelled Howley, was an American planter and lawyer from Liberty County, Georgia. He served briefly as the Governor of Georgia in 1780, as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1780 and 1781, and as Chief Justice of Georgia in 1782 and 1783.</p>

<p>Little is known about Howley's early life. In 1775 he married Sarah Fuller of Charleston, South Carolina, the widow of William Fuller and mother of two daughters. Subsequently, the couple had two daughters of their own, only one of whom reached adulthood.</p>

<p>When the Revolution began, Howley was practicing law in Sunbury, where he also owned a small plantation and a few slaves. He was not prominent in the early stages of the Revolution in Georgia. Savannah fell to the British on December 29, 1778, and Colonel Augustine Prevost began a siege of Sunbury. When Fort Morris surrendered in January 1779, Howley and his family fled to Augusta.</p>