Matthew McAllister (May 4, 1758 – May 9, 1823) was an American politician who served as the first United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia (1789–1797) and Mayor of Savannah, Georgia (1798–1799 and 1814–1815).
Matthew McAllister | |
|---|---|
| United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia | |
| In office 1789–1797 | |
| Appointed by | George Washington |
| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | Charles Jackson |
| 7th Mayor of Savannah, Georgia | |
| In office 1798–1799 | |
| Preceded by | John Glen |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Gibbons |
| In office 1814–1815 | |
| Preceded by | George Jones |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Charlton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Matthew McAllister May 4, 1758 York County, Pennsylvania |
| Died | May 9, 1823 (aged 65) |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Parent | Robert McAllister |
Biography edit
He was born on May 4, 1758[1] in York County, Pennsylvania,[2] the 5th child of Colonel Robert McAllister who founded the town of Hanover, Pennsylvania.[1] In 1784, after graduating from Princeton, he moved to Savannah, Georgia where he practiced law.[2] In 1789, he was named by George Washington[3] as the first United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia; he served until 1797 when he was replaced by Charles Jackson.[2] He was linked to the Yazoo Land Fraud of 1795 and came under scathing criticism from the state's leading Republican, James Jackson which impacted his career.[2] He later served in the Georgia Legislature[2] and as mayor of Savannah from 1798 to 1799 and again during the War of 1812 from 1814 to 1815.[4] He did not receive an appointment during Thomas Jefferson's administration (1801–1809).[2]
He married Hannah Gibbons, sister of William Gibbons.[1] They had two children, Harriet, who died in infancy, and Judge Matthew Hall McAllister.[1] He died on May 9, 1823.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Ward McAlister. The University Magazine. July 1893. pp. 865–866.
- ^ a b c d e f "To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew McAllister, 15 April 1801". April 15, 1801 – via National Archives Founder's Online.
- ^ Highton, Henry H. (1870). Representative and Leading Men of the Pacific: Matthew Hall McAllister. Bacon & Company.
- ^ "A List of Mayors and Aldermen of the City of Savannah, Georgia, 1790-2012". savannahga.gov. p. 45 and 51.