January 5, 1734

1734 One of the early actions of the Trustees in 1732 was to authorize or commission persons in England to raise funds to send Britain’s worthy poor to Georgia on charity. Three such solicitors were Jewish and used the money they raised to send 42 persecuted Jews (mainly from Portugal) to Georgia -- without the knowledge or approval of the Trustees. The Jewish immigrants arrived in Savannah on July 11, 1733, and Oglethorpe allowed them to stay. However, the Trustees were unhappy and on Jan. 5, 1734 ordered the Jewish solicitors to return their commissions to the Trustees and to make an effort to recall the Jews living in Savannah and send them somewhere else. [That recall never took place, and Savannah became home of the oldest Jewish settlement in the South.]

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January 5, 1868

1868 Maj. Gen. George Meade arrived in Atlanta to assume the duties of commander of the Third Military District with responsibilities for the Reconstruction of Georgia. Soon after his arrival, a number of prominent citizens -- including Georgia’s Gen. John B. Gordon -- welcomed Meade with a banquet. However, in less than two weeks, the warmth of Meade’s reception turned cold when on Jan. 13 he removed Georgia’s provisional governor and treasurer, followed a few days later by removal of the comptroller-general and secretary of state.

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January 5, 1926

1926 Civil rights and homeless advocate Hosea Williams was born in Attapulgus, Georgia.

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January 5, 1957

1957 Jackie Robinson announced his retirement from major league baseball.

January 5, 1979

1979 Robins Air Force Base officials met with area state legislators about a proposal to annex Robins AFB to increase the official population of the city or Warner Robins in order to qualify for more state and federal grants. The next day, the base commander asked the city’s mayor to drop the plans.

January 5, 1983

1983 Jim Williams was granted an appeal for a new trial; he had been convicted of murder the previous year in the case that was dramataized in the book and movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

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Today in History

1765 James Oglethorpe was appointed full general in the British Army. Ultimately, he would become the oldest general officer in the British military. read more