The Demosthenian Literary Society is a debating society at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. It was founded in 1803 by the first graduating class of the University's Franklin College. The society was founded on February 19th, 1803 and the anniversary is celebrated now with the Society's annual All-Night Meeting. It was named after the Greek orator Demosthenes.

Augustin Clayton , Williams Rutherford , and James Jackson are recognized as the founding fathers of Demosthenian. Clayton became the first student to receive his diploma from Franklin College and went on to become a judge of wide respect, Clayton County being named in his honor. Rutherford and Jackson went on to become professors at Franklin College.

Demosthenian Hall was constructed in 1824 at a cost to the Society of $4,000. This construction of the Hall gave the Society a place to keep its growing library, which surpassed that of the University's main library.

In recent years, the Demosthenians have hosted two debates with the Oxford Union, splitting them 1-1.

The Demosthenian Literary Society holds meetings during the Fall and Spring semesters at Demosthenian Hall on the historic North Campus at UGA

Famous Alumni

• William Y. Atkinson Former Governor of Georgia
• John Barrow U.S. Congressman
• Pope Barrow U.S. Senator
• Robert Benham Chief Justice, Georgia Supreme Court
• William Tapley Bennett Jr. Diplomat
• D. W. Brooks , Founder of Goldkist
• John A. Campbell U.S. Supreme Court Justice
• Hugh M. Dorsey Governor of Georgia
• Crawford Long Physician
• Count Emilio Pucci Fashion Designer
• Ralph Reed Political activist
• Herman E. Talmadge U.S. Senator and Former Governor of Georgia
• Robert Toombs U.S. and Confederate Statesman

Printed reference

Coulter, E. Merton. College Life in the Old South. Reprint edition. Athens, Ga.: University of Georgia Press, c1983.

Website

• Home for the Demosthenian Literary Society