James Edward Oglethorpe white plaque

This white commemorative plaque records: General James Oglethorpe, Member of Parliament for the Borough of Haslemere 1722-54 Founder of the American Colony of Georgia

James Edward Oglethorpe was a British soldier, politician, and philanthropist who founded the colony of Georgia in 1733 as a buffer to protect South Carolina from Spanish threats and to provide opportunities for debtors and refugees. He served as Member of Parliament for Haslemere and is remembered for his role in early American colonial development and his advocacy for social reform.