George Anderson Mercer was born into a prominent Savannah family. Mercer began practicing law in 1859 before serving as captain and assistant adjutant-general for the Republican Blues of Savannah during the Civil War. Alongside his appointment as colonel of the First Volunteer Regiment in 1886, he was the president of the Board of Public Education, president of the Board of Trustees of the Savannah Medical College, and a trustee of Chatham Academy. Mercer was president of the Georgia Historical Society for seven years, resigning months before his death on October 23, 1907.  He is buried in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.

Source:

• Mercer family papers GHS 0553, folder 15