Edward Telfair

Edward Telfair (1735 – September 17, 1807) was the Governor of the state of Georgia in 1786, and from 1790 through 1793. He was a member of the Continental Congress, and a signer of the Articles of Confederation.

Early Life

Telfair was born in 1735 in Town Head, Scotland, graduated from the Kirkcudbright Grammar School, and then acquired commercial training. He immigrated to America in 1758 as agent of a commercial house, settling in Virginia. Telfair subsequently moved to Halifax, North Carolina, and finally Savannah, Georgia, where he established a commission house in 1766.

Slave owner

Telfair was a slave owner and consultant on slavery issues. His mercantile firm dealt in slaves, among other things, and existing correspondence include discussions of the management of slaves, purchase and sale of slaves, runaway slaves, the mortality rate of slaves born on a plantation, the difficulty of selling closely related slaves, and the relations between whites and free blacks.

Revolutionary period

Telfair was a member of the council of safety (1775-1776), and was a delegate to the Provincial Congress meeting at Savannah (1776). Telfair was a also member of the Georgia committee of intelligence in 1776.

Telfair was elected to the Continental Congress for 1778,...
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