Fayette County was created by acts of the legislature on May 15 and December 24, 1821, and was named for the Marquis de LaFayette, the famous French general who came to this country to fight under General George Washington in the Revolutionary War. After returning to France, he revisited Georgia in 1825. Fayetteville was incorporated and made the county site in 1823. Among the first county officers were Sheriff John Welch, Clerk of Superior Court Thomas A. Dobbs, Clerk of Inferior Court Jonathan Dobbs, Coroner John Calhoun, and Surveyor James Adams.