David Emanuel (1744 – February 19, 1808) became 24th Governor of Georgia on March 3, 1801 upon the resignation of James Jackson to become U.S.

[2] If true, he would be the first person of Jewish descent to hold public office in the United States.

"[3] Judge Twiggs was born some years after David Emanuel had died, and so would not have had first hand knowledge of his heritage.

[10] Few details of Emanuel's early life are known, but according to the Georgia State Archives he was born in 1744 in Pennsylvania.

He served as a captain and colonel in the Georgia Militia during the American Revolution under the command of his brother-in-law General John Twiggs.