TIFTON—Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College has a natural tie to the annual Constitution Day on Sept. 17 because Abraham Baldwin, the namesake for the institution, was one of only two Georgia signers for the historic document 233 years ago on Sept. 17, 1787 in Philadelphia.
When the 39 men signed the Constitution, they set the stage for a quality of life in America that still exists today. The Constitution is the oldest and shortest national constitution in existence. William Few was the only other Georgia signer of the 4,543-word document.
Baldwin was born on Nov. 22, 1754 in Guilford, Conn., as the son of a blacksmith. He enrolled at Yale College at the age of 14 and completed his degree in 1772. He studied theology and stayed at Yale as a tutor until 1779. He served on George Washington’s staff as a chaplain during the Revolutionary War.
When the Revolutionary War was over, Baldwin began a study of law. After being admitted to the bar, he moved to Georgia in 1783 to set up a law practice near Augusta. Georgia Governor Lyman Hall then asked him to develop an educational plan for Georgia on both the secondary and post-secondary level. One year later, Baldwin was elected to the Georgia House of Assembly and in 1787 he represented Georgia as a member of the Constitutional Convention.
Baldwin later became the first president of the University of Georgia. He also served in the United States House of Representatives and in the U.S. Senate. A colorful panel depicting his career is a key part of the ABAC history exhibit in the Tift Hall administration building.
Almost 4,000 students are taking classes at ABAC this semester from 24 countries and 19 states. ABAC attracts students from 155 of Georgia’s 159 counties and from 53 of Florida’s 67 counties.
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