francis bartow was born september 6, 1816, in chatham county, georgia, near the county seat of savannah ("formerly georgia's state capital"), to dr. theodosius bartow and frances lloyd (stebbins) bartow. he studied law at the franklin college of arts and sciences in athens ("the founding college of the university of georgia"). while at franklin, bartow was a member of the phi kappa literary society and was mentored by john m. berrien, a u.s. senator and former attorney general in andrew jackson's administration. bartow graduated cum laude in 1835 at age 19. bartow was an intern under the tutelage of messrs. berrien & law at their savannah law office. bartow obtained his postgraduate education at yale law school in connecticut, returning to savannah in 1837. bartow was subsequently employed by the bryan superior court and admitted to the state bar of georgia soon after his return to savannah. he joined the locally known law firm of law & lovell, becoming a partner and forming law, bartow and lovell, bartow became regarded for his skills, handling difficult criminal cases.