04 Jan Hugh Manson Dorsey
July 10, 1871
Hugh Manson Dorsey
Hugh Manson Dorsey was born in Fayetteville to Rufus and Sarah Dorsey on July 10, 1871. He attended school in Fayetteville and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1893. He studied law and was admitted to the Bar at the Fayette County Courthouse house in 1894. In 1916 he resigned as Solicitor General after he had successfully prosecuted Leo Frank. In 1917 he was elected Governor of Georgia. He was elected to a second term in 1919 unopposed. He ran for United States Senate against Tom Watson and lost. Before leaving office as governor, he wrote a pamphlet, A Statement From Governor Hugh M. Dorsey as to the Negro in Georgia (1921). The pamphlet lists more than 130 instances of forced labor and lynchings of African Americans. He was the only man from Fayetteville, Fayette County to serve as Governor of Georgia.
He returned to private law practice until he was appointed Judge City Court Atlanta in 1926, a post once held by his father, and served until 1935. In 1935, he became Judge of the Superior Court. He served as Superior Court Judge until 1948[1]. He died June 11, 1948 and was buried in Westview Cemetery.
Word Count 201
By Deborah Riddle
Source: Georgia Historical Marker and accompanying research at the Fayette County Historical Society
Reviewed by Tony Parrott
[1] Proceedings, p.119
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