Eli Whitney: Innovator and Beyond
Eli Whitney was so much more than just the man behind the Cotton Gin. He was a man with a mind for innovation. Born on December 8, 1765, in Westborough, Massachusetts, is often remembered for a single invention: the cotton gin. However, Whitney’s life and work encompassed much more than this famous creation. His time […]
Juliette Gordon Low: The Trailblazer Behind the Girl Scouts
Juliette Gordon Low, affectionately known as “Daisy” to her friends and family, was born on October 31, 1860, into a well-established family in Savannah, Georgia. Raised in a home of privilege and cultural refinement, Low’s early life was marked by an adventurous spirit and a deep sense of empathy for others. Though she traveled extensively, […]
John Wesley: Ministry, Conflict, & A New Direction
A Missionary’s Journey to the New World John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, is a figure of great significance in the history of Savannah, Georgia. Born in Epworth, England, on June 28, 1703, Wesley was deeply influenced by his religious upbringing and education at Oxford. In 1735, seeking to spread the Gospel and to serve […]
Rufus E. Lester
Rufus Ezekiel Lester was born on December 12, 1837 in Burke County, Georgia near Waynesboro. Rufus was the child of Ezekiel and Mary Lester. He was educated in the country schools until he attended Mercer University, graduating in 1857. Having studied law, he was admitted to the Bar in Savannah, Georgia in 1859. And that […]
Herman Nathan Myers
Herman Nathan Myers was born in Bayern (Bavaria), Germany on January 18, 1847 to Sigmund and Fanny Myers. As a child Herman immigrated to Bath County, Virginia with his family and later moved to Lynchburg. In 1867 he and his brothers, Sigo and Fred, moved to Savannah. In Savannah Myers was to become a prominent […]
Mary Telfair
While Mary Telfair was born in Augusta, Georgia to a very prominent family in 1791, she had a huge impact on Savannah. Her father, Edward Telfair, was governor which afforded her some exceptions to the “rules” for women at the time. Her unique educational experience for women in the 19th century allowed her to form […]