|
|
|
|
The Founding Fathers: South Carolina
Like so many younger sons of the British aristocracy who could not inherit their fathers' estates because of primogeniture, Butler pursued a military career. He became a major in His Majesty's 29th Regiment and during the colonial unrest was posted to Boston in 1768 to quell disturbances there. In 1771 he married Mary Middleton, daughter of a wealthy South Carolinian, and before long resigned his commission to take up a planter's life in the Charleston area. The couple was to have at least one daughter.
|
|
|
Copyright 2011 boonesboro.com, Boonesboro
Living History with Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett at Fort Boonesborough email:
Daniel@boonesboro.com |
One
of the most aristocratic delegates at the convention, Butler was born in 1744 in
County Carlow, Ireland. His father was Sir Richard Butler, member of Parliament
and a baronet.
Charles
Pinckney, the second cousin of fellow-signer Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, was
born at Charleston, SC, in 1757. His father, Col. Charles Pinckney, was a rich
lawyer and planter, who on his death in 1782 was to bequeath Snee Farm, a
country estate outside the city, to his son Charles. The latter apparently
received all his education in the city of his birth, and he started to practice
law there in 1779.
The
eldest son of a politically prominent planter and a remarkable mother who
introduced and promoted indigo culture in South Carolina, Charles Cotesworth
Pinckney was born in 1746 at Charleston. Only 7 years later, he accompanied his
father, who had been appointed colonial agent for South Carolina, to England. As
a result, the youth enjoyed a European education.
John
Rutledge, elder brother of Edward Rutledge, signer of the Declaration of
Independence, was born into a large family at or near Charleston, SC, in 1739.
He received his early education from his father, an Irish immigrant and
physician, and from an Anglican minister and a tutor. After studying law at
London's Middle Temple in 1760, he was admitted to English practice. But, almost
at once, he sailed back to Charleston to begin a fruitful legal career and to
amass a fortune in plantations and slaves. Three years later, he married
Elizabeth Grimke, who eventually bore him 10 children, and moved into a
townhouse, where he resided most of the remainder of his life.