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John Berrien Historical Marker
- John Berrien State Historical
Marker
- Located in Colonial Park Cemetery, Savannah, Ga.
(Text)
- MAJOR JOHN BERRIEN
- (1759-1815)
In 1775 John Berrien of New Jersey
came to the province of Georgia, where one of his mother's kin
had previously settled. His father, John Berrien (1711-1772),
was a judge of the supreme court of New Jersey and a trustee
of Princeton College. From the Berrien home at Rock Hill, N.J.,
General Washington issued his farewell address to the army in
1783.
At the age of 17 John Berrien was
commissioned 2nd lieutenant in the first Georgia Continental
brigade (1776). A few months later he was promoted to 1st lieutenant
and the following year he was commissioned captain. A first supporter
of General Lachlan McIntosh in the troubles that befell that
officer after his slaying of Button Gwinnett in a duel, Berrien
followed McIntosh to Washington's headquarters in 1777 and served
as a brigade major of the North Carolina troops at Valley Forge.
After the Revolution Berrien returned
to Georgia with his family, which included his young son, John
MacPherson Berrien, who was destined to become one of Georgia's
most illustrious statesmen. Active in pubic life in Georgia,
Major John Berrien was for several years Collector of Customs
at Savannah; served as an alderman, and was State Treasurer at
Louisville (1796-1799). Berrien died at Savannah on November
6, 1815.
- 025-49 GEORGIA HISTORICAL
COMMISSION 1957
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