Nelson Tift
Encyclopedia
Nelson Tift was an American
jurist, businessman, soldier and politician from the state of Georgia
.
and moved with his family to Key West, Florida
in 1826, and then to Charleston, South Carolina
in 1830. In October 1835, Tift moved to Augusta, Georgia
. He then moved to Hawkinsville, Georgia
in March 1836. In October of that year, Tift founded Albany, Georgia
and became justice of the peace
. On July 5, 1840, he was elected to the Baker County, Georgia
Inferior Court and was re-elected to that post in January 1841.
In 1840, Tift was elected as a colonel of the local unit of the Georgia Militia
. In 1841, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives
and was re-elected to that one-year position in 1847, 1851, and 1852. Tift founded, edited and published the Albany Patriot newspaper from 1845 until 1858.
During the American Civil War
, Tift was a captain in the Navy supply department of the Confederate States Navy
supply department. After the war ended, he was elected to the 40th United States Congress
as a U.S. Representative
with the Democratic Party
and served from July 25, 1868, until March 3, 1869. He was not permitted to qualify for re-election in 1868 and unsuccessfully contested the election of his replacement, Richard H. Whiteley
. After his congressional service, Tift worked in various businesses. He served as a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1877. He died in Albany on November 21, 1891 and was buried in that city's Oakview Cemetery. Tift County, Georgia
, is named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jurist, businessman, soldier and politician from the state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Biography
Tift was born in Groton, ConnecticutGroton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
and moved with his family to Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
in 1826, and then to Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
in 1830. In October 1835, Tift moved to Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
. He then moved to Hawkinsville, Georgia
Hawkinsville, Georgia
Hawkinsville is a city in Pulaski County, Georgia, United States. The population was 7,487 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Pulaski County.-Geography:Hawkinsville is located at ....
in March 1836. In October of that year, Tift founded Albany, Georgia
Albany, Georgia
Albany is a city in and the county seat of Dougherty County, Georgia, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. It is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area and the southwest part of the state. The population was 77,434 at the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the...
and became justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. On July 5, 1840, he was elected to the Baker County, Georgia
Baker County, Georgia
Baker County is a county in the U.S. state of Georgia. , the population is 4,074. The 2007 Census Estimate placed the population at 3,781. The county seat is Newton.Baker County is included in the Albany, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
Inferior Court and was re-elected to that post in January 1841.
In 1840, Tift was elected as a colonel of the local unit of the Georgia Militia
Georgia Militia
The Georgia Militia existed from 1733 to 1879. It was originally planned by General James Oglethorpe prior to the founding of the Province of Georgia, the British colony that would become the state of Georgia. One reason for the founding of the colony was to act as a buffer between the Spanish...
. In 1841, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
and was re-elected to that one-year position in 1847, 1851, and 1852. Tift founded, edited and published the Albany Patriot newspaper from 1845 until 1858.
During the American 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...
, Tift was a captain in the Navy supply department of the Confederate States Navy
Confederate States Navy
The Confederate States Navy was the naval branch of the Confederate States armed forces established by an act of the Confederate Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the American Civil War...
supply department. After the war ended, he was elected to the 40th United States Congress
40th United States Congress
The Fortieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1867 to March 4, 1869, during the third and fourth...
as a U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
with the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and served from July 25, 1868, until March 3, 1869. He was not permitted to qualify for re-election in 1868 and unsuccessfully contested the election of his replacement, Richard H. Whiteley
Richard H. Whiteley
Richard Henry Whiteley was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator-elect from Georgia.-Biography:Born in County Kildare, Ireland, Whiteley immigrated to the United States in 1836 with his parents, who settled in Georgia. He received private instruction in elementary education. He engaged in...
. After his congressional service, Tift worked in various businesses. He served as a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1877. He died in Albany on November 21, 1891 and was buried in that city's Oakview Cemetery. Tift County, Georgia
Tift County, Georgia
Tift County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 38,407. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 41,610...
, is named in his honor.
External links
- Nelson Tift entry at The New Georgia Encyclopedia