George Muter
| George Muter | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals | |
|
In office 1792–1806 |
|
| Preceded by | Harry Innes |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Todd |
| Chief Justice of the District Court of Kentucky | |
|
In office 1783–1792 |
|
| Preceded by | Cyrus Griffin |
| Succeeded by | Court dissolved |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Madison County, Virginia |
| Profession | Judge |
| Religion | German Reformed Church |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Revolutionary War |
George Muter was an early settler of Kentucky and served as chief justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals.
Muter was born in Madison County, Virginia (then a part of Orange County). He was the son of a German father and a Scottish mother. Little is known of his early life.
During the Revolutionary War, Muter served as Virginia's Commissioner of the War Office. In March 1781, Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben charged that Muter was responsible for inadequate availability of weapons and ammunition in the state. Muter learned of the charges before von Steuben brought them before the House of Burgesses and asked Governor Thomas Jefferson for a full investigation to clear his name. Jefferson expressed confidence in Muter, but the March 20 report of a special committee appointed by the House of Burgesses charged that Muter was not qualified to fill the position and ought to be removed from office. Muter resigned two days after the report was delivered. Thomas Speed also records that he was commander aboard a ship of war and attained the rank of colonel.
It is likely that Muter came to Kentucky in 1784. The Virginia legislature had appointed him to the district court of Kentucky in 1783, but did not assume the post until 1785. The court first convened in Harrodsburg, but was moved to Danville in 1783. On November 15, Muter succeeded Cyrus Griffin as chief justice of the court.
Muter was a member of the German Reformed Church in Lexington, Kentucky. He was also the first president of the Caledonian Society, a nod to his Scottish heritage on his mother's side. He was one of the first trustees of Transylvania Seminary, which would eventually merge with Kentucky University to become Transylvania University. He was also named a trustee of the city of Danville in 1787.
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