James Edward Oglethorpe (1696-1785) is generally credited with being the founder of Georgia and a dominant force among the Trustees overseeing the colony. Despite the attempts of historians and biographers to understand him and his role, many questions remain unanswered. Our view of him is typical of our view of many key figures in the history of settlement. We have considerable information about their public actions; less about their private lives; and but little to assess individual values, motives, abilities, and personality.