Forsyth, John, 1780-1841

Biography

Forsyth was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia and moved to Augusta, Georgia as a boy. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1799. After studying the law, Forsyth gained admission to the Georgia bar in 1802 and began a legal practice in Augusta. In 1808 he gained an appointment to serve as Georgia’s Attorney General. Forsyth was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served from 1813 to 1818. He next won election to the U.S. Senate, serving from 1818 to 1819. In 1819 President James Monroe appointed Forsyth as U.S. Minister to Spain, an appointment that lasted until 1823. Forsyth returned to the United States and the U.S. House of Representatives in 1823, serving until 1827, when he began two years as Governor of Georgia. In 1829 he returned to the U.S. Senate, where he cemented his reputation as a powerful debater. He served until 1834. John Forsyth was appointed Secretary of State by President Andrew Jackson on June 27, 1834.He died in 1841.

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