William H. Crawford (1772-1834)

William Harris Crawford was born in this vicinity on 24 Feb. 1772 and moved with his family to Georgia during his childhood. He studied law, served in the state legislature, and in 1807 was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he championed the Bank of the United States and supported the War of 1812. Pres. James Madison appointed Crawford minister to France in 1813, secretary of war in 1815, and secretary of the treasury in 1816, a post he maintained for eight years under Pres. James Monroe. He reorganized the treasury and oversaw several major improvements to the federal infrastructure. Crawford was an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. president in 1824.