Edgar Gilmer Dawson was a planter and lawyer. He was born in Greensboro, Georgia

Greensboro, Georgia

Greensboro is a town in Greene County, Georgia, United States. Its population was 3,238 at the time of the 2000 U.S. census. This town is the county seat of Greene County.-Geography:Greensboro is located at .According to the U.S...

, and was one of the Greene County

Greene County, Georgia

Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 3, 1786. As of 2000, the population is 14,406. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 15,662. The county seat is Greensboro...

 Dawsons, the fifth child of Senator William Crosby Dawson

William Crosby Dawson

William Crosby Dawson was a lawyer, judge, politician, and soldier from Georgia.-Early life, education and legal career:...

.

In 1849 he received an A.B. from the University of Georgia

University of Georgia

The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...

 and he married Lucy F. Terrell, daughter of Dr. William Terrell

William Terrell

William Terrell was a United States Representative from Georgia. Born in Fairfax County, Virginia, he moved with his parents to Georgia, and pursued classical studies. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine at Philadelphia and commenced practice in Sparta, Georgia...

 of Sparta, Georgia

Sparta, Georgia

Sparta is a country town in Hancock County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,265 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Hancock County...

, in 1856.

Dawson served as Captain and later Major of the Terrell Light Artillery from 1861 to 1864 during the Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

. After 1867, he became a resident of Baltimore, Maryland.

The Edgar Gilmer Dawson Fund supports agricultural education at the University of Georgia

University of Georgia

The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...

. Dawson Hall, which houses the College of Home Economics, was named for him.