Gwinnett County was created in 1818 from treaty lands ceded by the Creek and Cherokee Indians. It is named for Button Gwinnett, one of the three Georgia signers of the Declaration of Independence. He had helped draft the state constitution and was appointed to fill the unexpired term of governor. Failing later to win election, his politics led to a duel with General Lachlan Mclntosh which proved fatal to Gwinnett. The county seat, Lawrenceville, is named for Captain James Lawrence, wounded commander of the Chesapeake during the War of 1812. It was he who, dying, gave his crew the battle cry: "Don't give up the ship!"