Early Years
Lamar grew up at Fairfield, his father's plantation near Milledgeville, Georgia. As a child, he loved to read and educated himself through books. Although he was accepted to Princeton University, Lamar chose not to attend. Instead, he worked as a merchant and then ran a newspaper, but both of those enterprises failed.
In 1823, Lamar's family connections helped him to gain a position as the private secretary to Georgia Governor George M. Troup. In this position, Lamar issued press releases and toured the country giving speeches on behalf of the governor. On one of his trips, he met Tabatha Jordan, whom he married in 1826.
When Troup lost his reelection bid in 1828 Lamar established a newspaper in Columbus, Georgia, the Columbus Enquirer. This venture was much more successful than his previous business attempts. The year after its establishment Lamar's wife died, and he withdrew his name from consideration for reelection to the Georgia Senate, in which he had served one term, and began to study law. He was admitted to the bar in 1833 and ran an unsuccessful campaign for a seat in the U.S. Congress.
He was also a Master Mason, and a member of Harmony Lodge No. 6 in Galveston, Texas.
Read more about this topic: Mirabeau B. Lamar
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