Allen Daniel, Jr.

Allen Daniel Jr. (1772-1836) was a major general in the Georgia Militia during the War of 1812, a member of the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia State Senate, and the namesake of Danielsville, Georgia, county seat of Madison County. Fort Daniel, built at Hog Mountain in Gwinnett County, Georgia in 1813 was named in his honor.

Early years Allen Daniel Jr. was born in 1772 (possibly in Virginia) to Allen Daniel, Sr. and Mary Allen. The family moved to the area that is now Madison County, Georgia some time prior to 1788. In 1792 the younger Daniel married Mary "Polly" Jones (1770-1858) and together they had 11 children. A road was also constructed from Fort Daniel to the Fort at Standing Peachtree, later known as Fort Gilmer. That fort was located in what is now the Buckhead Community in the city of Atlanta. The road connecting the two forts became known as Old Peachtree Road.

Public office Local office Daniel's first public office was the position of Elbert County Tax Receiver, which he held in 1795 at age 23.

State legislature He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1802, and held that seat until the end of the regular session in 1805. He resigned his seat in the House prior to the extraordinary legislative session of 1805. He again took up service in the House, beginning with the extraordinary session of 1807, and remained until 1811. In 1812, Daniel was the first Senator-elect from the newly created Madison County, a position he held until 1815. Daniel returned to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1821, and was elected Speaker of that body for the 1822 legislative session. He served as Speaker pro tempore of the House during his final year in that body, in 1823.

Judicial Overlapping this service in the legislature, as well as his position in the Georgia Militia, Daniel took up the position of Justice of the Inferior Court in 1814, and remained on the bench until 1828. In addition to those other duties and offices, Daniel also acted as Foreman of the Grand Jury in the years 1812, 1814, 1816, 1822, and 1830.

Fort Daniel, and Fort Daniel Elementary School, in Gwinnett County Georgia are legacies of the General's service in the War of 1812.