Fort King George

 Fort King George is a historic military outpost located near Darien, Georgia, along the Altamaha River, and is one of the earliest English fortifications in what would become the colony of Georgia.

Built: 1721
By: British colonists from South Carolina
Location: Just south of present-day Darien, Georgia
Purpose: To defend the southern frontier of British colonial interests against Spanish Florida and French Louisiana.

🛡️ Historical Significance

• Oldest British Fort in Georgia: Fort King George was the first English military outpost on Georgia’s coast—built more than a decade before James Oglethorpe founded Savannah in 1733.

• Strategic Location: Positioned along the Altamaha River, it served as a buffer zone between Spanish-controlled Florida and English colonies to the north.

Fort King George Timeline

1721
🔹 Construction Begins

• Built by the British as a southern outpost to defend against Spanish forces from Florida.

• Constructed of cypress wood and tabby (a type of concrete), it was garrisoned by British troops (mainly "invalid" soldiers—retired or wounded men).

1721–1727
🔹 Harsh Conditions

• Soldiers faced disease, swampy terrain, and isolation. Many died from malaria and other ailments.

1727
🔹 Abandonment

• The British abandon the fort due to unlivable conditions and high mortality rates.

1736
🔹 Oglethorpe Arrives

• General James Oglethorpe later uses the knowledge gained from Fort King George’s failure to establish more effective forts in Georgia, including Fort Frederica on St. Simons Island.

1736–1742
🔹 Scottish Highlanders Settle Nearby

• Oglethorpe brings in Scottish Highlanders to settle nearby Darien, forming a more permanent and healthier community to defend the area.

Mid–1900s
🔹 Historic Interest Grows

• The site is recognized for its colonial significance.

1960s–1970s
🔹 Reconstruction and State Historic Site Established

• Fort King George is reconstructed based on historical records and archaeological evidence and becomes a Georgia State Historic Site.