James Edward Oglethorpe

by Joyce Blackburn

Founder of the 13th Colony, progressive beyond his time. 1994, 5 1/4 By 8 1/2"

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published June 1, 1970

About the author

A graduate of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois, Joyce Blackburn worked for over two decades at Moody's radio station WMBI before becoming an author of children's books and biographies for young people.

Reviews

[Grumpus]

I had never heard of Oglethorpe, founder of the Georgia colony until a recent visit to Savannah. During a walking tour of the city, I learned about him and Tomochichi, chief of the Yamacraws, who gave his land to Oglethorpe to build the city.

The stories we heard during the walk made me want to learn more about this amazing man. He was a great humanitarian in that he promoted debtors reform in England and forbade slavery in the colony.

The book was an easy read and did not cover all of the stories we were told during the walking tour, leaving me to wonder where the truth lies. Still it does not take away from the accomplishments of this man's extraordinary life achievements.

[Karen GoatKeeper]

Who was James Edward Oglethorpe?
This remarkable man often rates a single sentence as the founder of the state of Georgia in the United States. He did and stood for so much more, was a century or more ahead of his times.
Oglethorpe was a champion of rights for the common man. He had the 1730 Debtors Act passed by Parliament. He was a war hero. He opposed slavery forbidding both slaves and rum in Georgia [something changed as soon as he had to return to Britain]. He set up the defense that kept the Spanish from Florida and Cuba from destroying the Carolina colonies.
This is a short, meaty book. It is easy reading and well worth the time spent reading it.

[EmMa]

"His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead."

[Carol]

A Must Read for all Georgians

I was taught about Oglethorpe and Tomochichi as a young child at my Grandmother's knee. Like all Georgia children of my time I learned Georgia history in third grade. However, this wonderfully clear, well written, obviously well researched book has brought so much to life! I recommend this book to ALL Georgians, and those interested in our FIRST founding Fathers, especially tied to trips to see the remains and monuments built by the men and women described on these pages!

[Fred]

Advocate of Liberty

An engaging “novelization” of Oglethorpe’s life, this work provides the reader a clear sense of its subject’s values of liberty, justice, and equality. His courage was undoubted, even if challenged on many occasions. His self-sacrifice is rarely emulated, whether then or today. Would have liked a slightly more scholarly approach, but this book gives the reader an unobscured view of this intriguing gentleman.

[Newt Taylor]

Giving this one 4 stars until I come across a better biography.

[Sevar]

Little moments of epiphany in the lives of ordinary people...

[Stagger Lee]

So I finally finished some Joyce. Even if it is the entry level one. Can't claim to have enjoyed it all but The Dead really is a punch in the guts...

[Karen Hartley]

One of the Rangers at Fort Frederica told me that it was the best biography of James Oglethorpe written, even though it is a children's book. It was easy to read and contained the basics of his life. But I might look for a more devloped biography.