Who founded the colony of Georgia and is known for his efforts to reform society by resettling the worthy poor?

James Oglethorpe founded the colony of Georgia in 1733, and he is notable for his vision of creating a settlement for the "worthy poor" of England. His motivation stemmed from a desire to provide a fresh start for individuals who were impoverished and often imprisoned for debt. Oglethorpe believed that by establishing a new colony where these individuals could work and thrive, he could help reform society and reduce overcrowding in British prisons.

Under his leadership, Georgia was designed as a place for legal residents to work for their own and the colony's benefit rather than to serve as a penal colony. Oglethorpe's policies emphasized agricultural development, small land holdings for settlers, and the absence of slavery in the colony's early years, which aligned with his humanitarian goals. Thus, his efforts were significant in shaping Georgia’s initial social structure and purpose as a refuge and an opportunity for the impoverished.