George Hillyer (March 17, 1835 – October 2, 1927) was an American politician, serving as the 29th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, as well as a state representative and senator.

The men were mustered into the Confederate Army on June 13, with Hillyer elected as the captain of what became Company C of the 9th Georgia Volunteer Infantry.

With all the senior officers wounded or killed, Hillyer assumed command of the regiment for the rest of the Gettysburg Campaign, and wrote the official report of the 9th Georgia's service in the battle.

Thousands of troops fought in this area and veterans compared it to a whirlpool--a stream of eddies and tides that flowed around the 19-20 acres of wheat owned by farmer George Rose; it is said to have changed hands six times.

[2][3] In June 1867, at the age of 32, Hillyer married Ellen Emily Cooley, and together they undertook to raise a family, eventually having 8 children (three of whom died in infancy).

[2] Starting in 1870, he served four years as a Democrat in the Georgia Senate, representing the 35th District, which included Fulton, Clayton, and Cobb counties.

Hillyer played an active role in the establishment of the Atlanta University System to provide higher education to the freed slaves.