George Michael Troup (September 8, 1780 – April 26, 1856) was a prominent American politician who served as the 32nd Governor of Georgia for two terms (1823-1827). Known as "the Hercules of states' rights," Troup was a fierce advocate for state sovereignty and a key figure in Georgia's early 19th-century politics.
Political Legacy
- Georgia General Assembly (1803-1805)
- U.S. House of Representatives (1807-1815)
- U.S. Senate (1816-1818, 1829-1833)
- 32nd Governor of Georgia (1823-1827)
- War Hawks member supporting War of 1812
Early Life and Education
Troup was born during the American Revolution at McIntosh Bluff, on the Tombigbee River in what is now Alabama. He was the son of George Troup and Catherine McIntosh, the Georgia-born daughter of Captain John McIntosh, a British military officer and chief of the McIntosh clan. Through his mother, Troup was connected to Creek Indian leadership - she was a first cousin to Creek Chief Alexander McGillivray and aunt of Creek Chief William McIntosh.
Troup graduated from the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) in 1797. He read law with an established firm and was admitted to the bar in Savannah, Georgia in 1799.
War Hawks and Congressional Service
Troup served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1807 to 1815. Along with Henry Clay of Kentucky and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, Troup was part of the nationalistic movement known as the "War Hawks" - members who supported the United States' entry into the War of 1812. He notably defended Calhoun on the House floor against attacks from Rep. John Randolph of Virginia.
Governorship of Georgia
After losing two gubernatorial campaigns to John Clark in 1819 and 1821, Troup finally won the governor's race in 1823 when Clark was no longer eligible. He was re-elected in 1825 in Georgia's first popular election, winning by a razor-thin margin.
Treaty of Indian Springs
As governor, Troup advocated for the removal of Creek Indians from western Georgia. He negotiated the controversial Treaty of Indian Springs on February 12, 1825, with his first cousin William McIntosh, a mixed-blood Creek chief. When President John Quincy Adams opposed the treaty, Troup threatened to attack Federal troops if they interfered, ultimately forcing Adams to concede and allow Georgia to seize the remaining Creek land.
Political Philosophy and Legacy
Troup was a believer in expansionist Manifest Destiny policies and strongly supported states' rights. Born to planters, he supported slavery throughout his career and became known as "the Hercules of states' rights" for his fierce defense of state sovereignty against federal authority.
Despite the recentness of the War of 1812, Troup maintained that the United States should pursue positive relations with Great Britain. He always referred to the British in familial terms ("our cousins," "fraternal relations with England") and believed that since Britain and America shared common roots, the two countries would "ultimately reunite in some form."
Progressive Policies
During his governorship, Troup supported public education and the construction of new roads and canals. These infrastructure improvements helped modernize Georgia and promote economic development throughout the state.
Personal Life and Property
Troup was twice married and father to six children. He primarily lived in Dublin in Laurens County, Georgia. His plantation, Valdosta (sometimes spelled Val d'Osta), was named after the Valle d'Aosta alpine valley in Italy. The town of Valdosta, Georgia was later named for Troup's plantation, and Troupville, Georgia was also named in his honor.
Later Career and Death
After serving as governor, Troup returned to the U.S. Senate, serving from 1829 to 1833. He continued to be an influential voice for states' rights and Georgia's interests in national politics.
George Troup died on April 26, 1856, in Treutlen County, Georgia, at the age of 75. His legacy lives on in Georgia through various places named in his honor, including Troup Square in Savannah's Historic District.