The Importing and Exporting Company of Georgia was organized in April or May of 1863; Gazaway Bugg Lamar was its president. An opponent of the cotton embargo place upon the South, Lamar began the company as a way to run the blockades and continue trade with the North and with England. The company purchased a total of five ships by the middle of 1864: Florie, Lillian, Little Hattie, Little Ada, and Susan Brown; the first three ships were purchased in Europe. The Importing and Exporting Company of Georgia ran blockades between Wilmington and Bermuda, a depot for goods traveling to and from Liverpool, England. Agents were established in the four ports used by the company: Henry Lafone was stationed in Europe; James C. Phinizy was in Bermuda; L.G. Blowers and C.A.L. Lamar were stationed in Wilmington, and Lamar remained in Savannah. To avoid being stopped at the blockades, the Governor of Savannah, Joseph Brown, agreed to have the ships sail under the guise of state governmental business. The company failed to thrive, however, when the Confederate States of America's government insisted that half of all cargo space on all vessels traveling under the government's name must be used for government shipments. The Importing and Exporting Company of Georgia was dissolved and its assets liquidated by Lamar when he swore allegiance to the United States after the 1864 capture of Savannah.
From the description of Importing and Exporting Company of Georgia stock certificates, 1863-1864. (Georgia Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 85450344
