John Twiggs
Major General, Georgia Militia

John Twiggs was born on 5 June 1750 in Maryland. His family moved to St. George's Parish in Georgia in 1751.

Twiggs served as a Lieutenant in a militia company raised in St. Paul's Parish (current-day Richmond County, GA), and he was promoted to Captain on 3 June 1774. He led a company that was commanded by Colonel Samuel Jack during the Revolution. Twiggs was later promoted to Colonel, then Brigadier General (18 August 1781), and finally Major General (8 September 1791). He was wounded in a battle in Camden, SC; however, he continued to serve in the military after the Revolution.

Twiggs participated in the commission that selected the site for the University of Georgia in Athens, served as a Trustee to that institution and contributed money for the building of the initial UGA Chapel on its campus. He was also appointed Justice of the Peace for Burke County, GA, in 1782 and served as a state Senator from Richmond County in 1791.

Through a series of land purchases, Twiggs built Good Hope Plantation which stretched throughout Richmond County and into Aiken County, SC. He died at his plantation in 1816 and was buried there.

Family

He married Ruth Emanuel, the sister of David Emanuel, who served under Twiggs in his unit and later became Governor of Georgia. Twiggs had six children with the most notable being American Civil War General, David Emanuel Twiggs. Another son was USMC Major Levi Twiggs. A great grandson of General John Twiggs was USMC Major General John Twiggs Myers holder of the Marine Corps Brevet Medal.

Death and Burial

Major General John Twiggs died on 29 March 1816 in Augusta, GA. He is buried at Twiggs Cemetery in Augusta.