As visionary, social reformer, and military leader, James Oglethorpe conceived of and implemented his plan to establish the colony of Georgia. It was through his initiatives in England in 1732 that the British government authorized the establishment of its first new colony in North America in more than five decades. Later that year he led the expedition of colonists that landed in Savannah early in 1733. Oglethorpe spent most of the next decade in Georgia, where he directed the economic and political development of the new colony, defended it militarily, and continued to generate support and recruit settlers in England and other parts of Europe. Oglethorpe was born on December 22, 1696, in London, England; he was the tenth and last child of Eleanor and Theophilus Oglethorpe. Though frequently in London, the Oglethorpes maintained a large family estate in Godalming, a small Surrey town near London. Here at Westbrook Manor (later the Meath Home) young Oglethorpe grew up. His father owned other property in Godalming and the neighboring town of Haslemere, and the rent from these gave the Oglethorpes a comfortable life. Both Theophilus and Eleanor had long been interested in politics, and in 1698 voters of Haslemere elected Theophilus to the House of Commons. All three of his sons-including Oglethorpe-would later hold this seat. New Georgia Encyclopedia http://georgiaencyclopedia.org (Retrieved December 23, 2008)
The town of Godalming is situated among some of the finest countryside in southern England. Its narrow attractive streets, lined with many ancient and historic buildings, lie on well-drained land above the meadows of the River Wey. Beautiful wooded hills rise steeply all around, forming a backcloth which greatly enhances the rural setting of the town. Godalming Town Council website http://godalming-tc.gov.uk (Retrieved November 4, 2008)
From the description of Stanley C. Dedman collection, 1969- (University of Georgia). WorldCat record id: 291090498
