Troup, after leaving this school, went to Princeton, and graduated at Nassau Hall, in his nineteenth year.  Returning to Savannah, he read law; but possessing ample fortune, he never practised his profession.  His talents were of an order to attract attention.  James Jackson, and most of the leading men of the day, turned to him as a man of great promise.  The Republican party of Savannah nominated him to represent the county of Chatham, in the Legislature of the State, before he was twenty-one years of age.  Being constitutionally ineligible, he, of course, declined; but as soon as he became eligible, he was returned, and, for some years, continued to represent the county.  From the Legislature he was transferred to Congress, where he at once became distinguished, not only for talent, but a lofty honor and most polished bearing.  While a member of Congress, he married a Virginia lady, who was the mother of his three children.  Soon after the birth of her third child, there was discovered aberration of mind in Mrs. Troup, which terminated in complete alienation.  This was a fatal blow to the happiness of her husband.  She was tenderly beloved by him; and his acute sensibility and high nervous temperament became so much affected as not only to fill him with grief, but to make all his remaining life one of melancholy and sorrow.  He had been elected to the United States Senate, but, in consequence of this terrible blow, and the constant care of his afflicted lady, to which he devoted himself, he lost his health, and resigned.  He retired to his home, and to the sad duties of afflicted love.

About this time the people of Georgia became divided upon the political issues of the day.  William H. Crawford was nominated by his friends for the Presidency.  This aroused his enemies’ hatred, who organized an opposition to him in his own State.  This opposition was headed by John Clarke, his old enemy, and was aided by every old Federalist and personal enemy in the State.  Crawford’s friends were too confident in the popularity which had borne him to so many triumphs, and were slow to organize.  The election of Governor devolved, at that time, upon the Legislature, and Clarke, upon the death of Governor Rabun, was announced as the candidate.  The event of Rabun’s death occurred only a very short time before the meeting of the Legislature.  Matthew Talbot, the President of the Senate, assumed, under the Constitution, the duties of Governor, but sent the message already prepared by Rabun to the Legislature, and immediately an election took place, whereupon Clarke was elected.  Troup had been solicited to oppose him, but was loath to embark anew in political life.  Ultimately he yielded, and was defeated by thirteen votes.  The friends of Crawford were now alarmed, and the contest was immediately renewed.  The canvass was one of the most rancorous and bitter ever known in the State, but of this I have spoken in a former chapter.  At the ensuing election, Troup was again a candidate.  Again the contest was renewed, and, if possible, with increased violence and vigor.  Clarke, in obedience to usage, had retired, and his party had put forward Matthew Talbot, of Wilkes County, as the competitor of Troup.  This contest had now continued for four years, and Troup was elected by two votes.