Despite little success in farming or business, Button Gwinnett found a foothold in revolutionary politics in his adopted colony. He was appointed commander of Georgia's continental militia in 1776 and elected to attend the Continental Congress. After signing the Declaration of Independence, Gwinnett returned home hoping to be appointed to lead the Georgia militia, but the post went to his rival Lachlan McIntosh. He served in the Georgia legislature and drafted a constitution for the new state. Gwinnett became president of the Council of Safety after the Georgia legislature adjourned in 1777. He led a failed attempt to invade Florida to secure Georgia's southern border, resulting in him being charged with malfeasance. Although he was cleared of wrongdoing, Gwinnett's honor was challenged by McIntosh, and they dueled outside of Savanna on May 16, 1777. Gwinnett died three days later at the age of 42.
