a fiscal conservative. He was elevated to the United States House of Representatives as a Whig to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Richard W. Habersham. His term there was short, only serving from January 7 to March 3, 1843. Governor of Georgia George W. Crawford was the Whig Party's nominee for governor in 1843. Crawford defeated the Democratic nominee, Mark Anthony Cooper, by a vote of 38,813 to 35,325 succeeding Charles J. McDonald to become the first Whig candidate to serve as Georgia's governor (as of 2019, he remains the only Whig governor). The Whigs won a majority in both houses of the state legislature in 1843, as well. Crawford was reelected in 1845, defeating Democratic challenger Matthew H. McAllister by a margin of 1,751 votes. With the legislature's support, Crawford was able to effect the Whig's agenda which focused on debt reduction and fiscal restraint. Crawford's administration was able to reduce expenditures more than $66,000 in its first year and nearly eliminate the state's debt of $500,000 before being succeeded by George W. Towns. Besides implementing sound budget policy, Crawford was able to expand educational opportunities in the state and hasten construction of the state-owned Western and Atlantic Railroad. Crawford's administration established the Supreme Court of Georgia as well, which had failed to be institutionalized for decades of previous effort. He redrew the state's congressional maps, and reformed the state penitentiary – making it "a more economically sound institution". Crawford also succeeded at dismantling the Georgia Central Bank, an important Whig campaign endeavor for years. Secretary of War When General Zachary Taylor became President of the United States in 1849, he appointed Crawford United States Secretary of War. As War Secretary, he was involved in settling a claim from the United States government for the Galphin family, descendants of George Galphin, an American businessman who specialized in Indian Trade. Crawford received a large payment for his services and several of his political foes seized upon the opportunity to suggest impropriety. Crawford was subsequently investigated by a commission and completely exonerated of any wrongdoing yet his critics continued casting aspersions. When Millard Fillmore became president after Taylor's sudden death while in office in 1850, Crawford resigned along with the rest of the Taylor administration, rather than work for Millard Fillmore. Georgia Secession Convention In 1861, Crawford was elected as a delegate from Richmond County, Georgia to the