George Washington Bonaparte TOWNS, Congress, GA (1801-1854)

TOWNS, George Washington Bonaparte, a Representative from Georgia; born in Wilkes County, Ga., May 4, 1801; received a limited education; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1824 and began practice in Montgomery, Ala.; returned to Georgia in 1826 and continued the practice of law at Talbotton; member of the State house of representatives in 1829 and 1830; served in the State senate 1832-1834; elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress and served from March 4, 1835, to September 1, 1836, when he resigned; reelected as a Democrat to the Twenty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1837-March 3, 1839); chairman, Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds (Twenty-fifth Congress); was not a candidate for reelection in 1838 to the Twenty-sixth Congress; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-ninth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Washington Poe and served from January 5, 1846, to March 3, 1847; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1846 to the Thirtieth Congress; Governor of Georgia 1847-1851; resumed the practice of law; died in Macon, Ga., July 15, 1854; interment in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present