Matthew McAllister explained

Matthew McAllister
Office:United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia
Term Start:1789
Term End:1797
Appointer:George Washington
Predecessor:None
Successor:Charles Jackson
Order1:7th
Office1:Mayor of Savannah, Georgia
Term Start1:1798
Term End1:1799
Predecessor1:John Glen
Successor1:Thomas Gibbons
Term Start2:1814
Term End2:1815
Predecessor2:George Jones
Successor2:Thomas Charlton
Birth Name:Matthew McAllister
Birth Date:4 May 1758
Birth Place:York County, Pennsylvania
Party:Democratic-Republican
Parents:Robert McAllister

Matthew McAllister (May 4, 1758 – May 9, 1823) was an American politician who served as the first United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia (1789–1797) and Mayor of Savannah, Georgia (1798–1799 and 1814–1815).

Biography

He was born on May 4, 1758[1] in York County, Pennsylvania,[2] the 5th child of Colonel Robert McAllister who founded the town of Hanover, Pennsylvania.[1] In 1784, after graduating from Princeton, he moved to Savannah, Georgia where he practiced law.[2] In 1789, he was named by George Washington[3] as the first United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia; he served until 1797 when he was replaced by Charles Jackson.[2] He was linked to the Yazoo Land Fraud of 1795 and came under scathing criticism from the state's leading Republican, James Jackson which impacted his career.[2] He later served in the Georgia Legislature[2] and as mayor of Savannah from 1798 to 1799 and again during the War of 1812 from 1814 to 1815.[4] He did not receive an appointment during Thomas Jefferson's administration (1801–1809).[2]

He married Hannah Gibbons, sister of William Gibbons.[1] They had two children, Harriet, who died in infancy, and Judge Matthew Hall McAllister.[1] He died on May 9, 1823.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Ward McAlister. 865–866 . The University Magazine. July 1893.
  2. Web site: To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew McAllister, 15 April 1801 . National Archives Founder's Online. April 15, 1801.
  3. Book: Highton, Henry H. . Representative and Leading Men of the Pacific: Matthew Hall McAllister . 1870. Bacon & Company.
  4. Web site: A List of Mayors and Aldermen of the City of Savannah, Georgia, 1790-2012 . savannahga.gov. 45 and 51.