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Charles Augustus Lafayette Lamar

Personal Note(s):

Note Number	Note Text
1	Savannah Morning news. Charles Augustus Lafayette Lamar came from one of Savannah's most distinguished families. His godfather was no less than the Marquis de Lafayette — the Frenchman had been present at the boy's baptism in 1825. Lamar's father, Gazaway Lamar, was one of the richest men in the South, and the youthful Lamar seemed to inherit great ability. Charles Lamar was a director of the Bank of Commerce and of the Savannah, Albany and Gulf Railroad. He was also president of the Plank Road Company and the owner of one of Savannah's largest cotton warehouses. He was also one of a growing number of Southern men who thought the United States should again allow international slave trading. In 1858, Lamar bought the "Wanderer," one of the fastest ships afloat, and outfitted her for the slave trade. In November of that year, the "Wanderer" landed at Jekyll Island and offloaded some 400 Africans who were quickly sold and dispersed to plantation owners along the Savannah River. When news of the shipment got out, Lamar and several of his associates were arrested on federal charges. The cases were tried in November of 1859 and May of 1860 before U.S. Supreme Court Justice James Moore Wayne, a Savannah native. The trials provided little satisfaction for Lamar's opponents. Wayne was no friend of the secessionists — the judge remained on the Supreme Court throughout the Civil War — but the charges against Lamar largely failed to stick. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and given a $500 fine. But, because he and the other defendants were "gentlemen," they were allowed to serve their term in Lamar's apartments, located above his office. Lamar was unrepentant. When the "Wanderer" was sold at auction in 1859 he bought it and then knocked down the man who had dared bid against him. During the trial Lamar had raged at Northern newspaper editors, including Horace Greeley, demanding they apologize or meet him in a duel. It was not an idle threat — Lamar once shot one of his friends during an argument at a horse track. The elder Lamar did not share his son's sentiments. Writing Charles Lamar in 1857, Gazaway Lamar said, "An expedition to the moon would have been equally sensible, and no more contrary to the laws of Providence. May God forgive you for all your attempts to violate his will and his laws."

Note Number

Note Text

Savannah Morning news.
Charles Augustus Lafayette Lamar came from one of Savannah's most distinguished families. His godfather was no less than the Marquis de Lafayette — the Frenchman had been present at the boy's baptism in 1825.

Lamar's father, Gazaway Lamar, was one of the richest men in the South, and the youthful Lamar seemed to inherit great ability. Charles Lamar was a director of the Bank of Commerce and of the Savannah, Albany and Gulf Railroad. He was also president of the Plank Road Company and the owner of one of Savannah's largest cotton warehouses.

He was also one of a growing number of Southern men who thought the United States should again allow international slave trading.

In 1858, Lamar bought the "Wanderer," one of the fastest ships afloat, and outfitted her for the slave trade. In November of that year, the "Wanderer" landed at Jekyll Island and offloaded some 400 Africans who were quickly sold and dispersed to plantation owners along the Savannah River.

When news of the shipment got out, Lamar and several of his associates were arrested on federal charges.

The cases were tried in November of 1859 and May of 1860 before U.S. Supreme Court Justice James Moore Wayne, a Savannah native.

The trials provided little satisfaction for Lamar's opponents. Wayne was no friend of the secessionists — the judge remained on the Supreme Court throughout the Civil War — but the charges against Lamar largely failed to stick.

He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and given a $500 fine. But, because he and the other defendants were "gentlemen," they were allowed to serve their term in Lamar's apartments, located above his office.

Lamar was unrepentant. When the "Wanderer" was sold at auction in 1859 he bought it and then knocked down the man who had dared bid against him.

During the trial Lamar had raged at Northern newspaper editors, including Horace Greeley, demanding they apologize or meet him in a duel. It was not an idle threat — Lamar once shot one of his friends during an argument at a horse track.

The elder Lamar did not share his son's sentiments. Writing Charles Lamar in 1857, Gazaway Lamar said, "An expedition to the moon would have been equally sensible, and no more contrary to the laws of Providence. May God forgive you for all your attempts to violate his will and his laws."