Scott, George Washington, 1829-1903.

George Washington Scott was a prominent merchant, planter, soldier, politician, and industrialist. Born in Alexandria, Pennsylvania on February 22, 1829, Scott visited Florida in 1850 and moved to Quincy the following year. In 1852 Scott, moving to Tallahassee, established a mercantile exchange and became involved in plantation agriculture.

In 1860 Scott enlisted in the Tallahassee Guards, a Leon County militia organization. Upon the formation of the Confederacy he was appointed Captain of Company D, Second Florida Cavalry. Scott organized and was elected lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth Florida Cavalry Battalion in 1863.

The Fifth Florida Cavalry served throughout middle and east Florida. Scott's unit participated in the February, 1864 Battle of Olustee and in subsequent actions in the vicinity of Jacksonville. In March 1865 Scott and his men played a prominent roll in the Battle of Natural Bridge. This action prevented a Union occupation of the State Capital. Scott's unit surrendered, and was paroled at Tallahassee, in May 1865.

Returning to his civilian career following the war, Scott briefly entered politics. In 1868 during the turbulent Reconstruction Era, he unsuccessfully ran for Florida Governor on the Democratic ticket. He became involved in real estate, cotton manufacturing, and the phosphate industry. In addition, he was a founder of Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Ga., which is named after his mother. Scott died on October 3, 1903 in Atlanta.

From the description of Papers, 1850-1904. (Florida State Archive). WorldCat record id: 32413220