MAYORS OF SAVANNAH: RICHARD ARNOLD

Richard Dennis Arnold (1808-1876) was a native of Savannah, Ga., a physician, educator, and Georgia state legislator. Dr. Arnold attended the University of Pennsylvania Medical School and graduated in 1830. He would set out his shingle in Savannah in what would be a long and distinguished medical career. In 1830 when a small pox epidemic started he became the chief vaccinator for the city. He also became one of the world’s leading experts on yellow fever. In 1835 he was appointed to be the physician for Savannah’s poorhouse and hospital, a position he would hold for the next twenty years. In 1846 his fame and experience led him to be one of the founding members of the American Medical Association. In 1850 when his wife died he became more active and formed the Savannah Medical School where he taught for years. In the next year he founded the Medical Association of Georgia.

Dr. Arnold became one of the co-owners of the Savannah Georgian a newspaper which opened the door to a political career. He was a Union Democrat who was against nullification and had strong leanings toward a federalist government in 1833.  He would serve in the Georgia state House of Representatives and Senate. He was also an alderman of Savannah for numerous years. Arnold would serve as Mayor of Savannah four terms at different times of his life starting in 1842, 1851, 1859, and again in 1863. It would be his last term that would be his most important.   

Dr. Arnold was one of four founders of the Georgia Historical Society in 1839. The Georgia Historical Society “is the oldest continuously operating state historical society in the South and one of the oldest historical organizations in the nation. The institution is dedicated to collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia history.” He also was appointed in 1865 to the newly formed public school board. He was elected president of the school board in 1866, a position he held until his death in 1876.

But to many his most valuable contribution to Savannah was as Mayor in 1863. Sherman was on the march toward Savannah. It was Dr. Arnold who had been against secession until the very last. He was also a former member and President of the Unitarian Church of Savannah that closed because of Unitarian sympathies for abolition in 1861. It was this doctor and humanitarian that would first meet with Brigadier Gen. John W. Geary and later General Sherman. He convinced both men that he would surrender the city of Savannah without a fight if they promised among other things to not burn the city down. Thus Savannah unlike many other cities that lay in the path of Sherman was not burned.

Dr. Arnold died in Savannah on July 10, 1876; he is buried in Bonaventure Cemetery. The citizens of Savannah erected a monument to him at the site. It is inscribed with these words: “Crowned in life with every honor his fellow citizens could bestow they erect this tribute to his memory.” Dr. Arnold’s life shows a lifetime commitment to make Savannah a better place.
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