Take a look at America’s Declaration of Independence, signed 250 years ago, and you’ll see a familiar name: Gwinnett. Our county is named in honor of one of America’s Founding Fathers, yet many people know little about the man named Button Gwinnett. His story is one of bravery, perseverance and determination and is worthy of being memorialized by our thriving county.
Bravely Birthing a Nation
British-born Button Gwinnett was a businessman who moved to the colonies as an adult. He relocated to Georgia and established roots as a merchant and planter. He experienced both success and failure in business but always kept trying, according to Gwinnett Community Services Deputy Director and Gwinnett Historical Society President Jason West, who has spent years bringing Gwinnett’s story to life through reenactments.
West says, “One thing we can learn from Button Gwinnett’s life is that everything has the potential to succeed or fail. If you get knocked down, you have to get back up. We saw that in Button Gwinnett, who had to reinvent himself multiple times.”
Along the way, Gwinnett befriended Lyman Hall, who sparked his interest in politics. Gwinnett entered public life as a justice of the peace, later won a seat in Georgia’s colonial assembly, and was eventually chosen as one of three delegates from Georgia to attend the Continental Congress and sign the Declaration of Independence.
“When Gwinnett signed the Declaration in 1776, independence was no certainty,” West says. “The colonies were challenging the most powerful empire in the world. By signing the document, Gwinnett and the other 55 signatories were committing treason against England. It was a huge gamble and took great bravery.”
That willingness to act amid uncertainty remains familiar territory for business leaders making investments, entering markets or backing bold ideas before outcomes are clear.
A Short Life and Long Legacy
Gwinnett was generally well-liked, but he had a political adversary in Lachlan McIntosh, who publicly questioned his character. Gwinnett, who struggled with his temper, challenged McIntosh to a duel — a common practice in the 1700s. A few days after the duel, Gwinnett died from his injuries at age 42.
Reflecting on what might have been, West says, “If Gwinnett had lived longer, I wonder if his name would be synonymous with the Founding Fathers whose names we can recite off the top of our heads — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, John Adams. Would he have equated to that great success? We don’t know because his life was cut so short.”
West notes that Gwinnett’s signature is now the most valuable among the Declaration signers because authentic examples are so rare. And, he adds, historians are unsure what he looked like, as no authenticated images of him exist. One of the portraits most associated with him is attributed to a Swiss artist who painted in the late 18th century, but there is no evidence to confirm that it is truly his likeness.
Though Gwinnett never lived in what is now Gwinnett County, the Georgia General Assembly honored him in 1818 by naming the new county after him. West says, “People often think he was born here or lived here. But he wasn’t. The legislature named this county in his honor as a signer of the Declaration of Independence.”
Life, Liberty and What Was to Come
When Americans think of the Declaration of Independence, we often jump to Thomas Jefferson’s beautiful words about life and liberty. Yet, those ideals did not extend to everyone in 1776.
“There is a discrepancy in what they signed in 1776 when they spoke of liberty for all,” West notes. “But I see it as a promise of what was to come. They were creating a nation with a lot of promise that amid the injustices of their time would serve as the foundation for an expansion of rights and equality.”
West believes that Button Gwinnett would be pleased by the modern-day area that bears his name.
“Gwinnett County has a lot of success, a lot of diversity in people and industry,” he says. “Gwinnett wanted to be successful but often missed the mark. I believe he would be proud of the success his name represents today.”
Button Gwinnett took action during a defining moment in world history by signing his name on one of the most important documents ever created. For today’s leaders, his story and our county’s name still offer timeless reminders: be brave, keep trying and remember that imperfect people can help build extraordinary things. Now 250 years later, that legacy remains signed, sealed, Gwinnett.
