Henry Middleton
| Henry Middleton | |
 Possible[1] portrait by Benjamin West, circa 1771. |
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| In office October 22, 1774 – October 26, 1774 |
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| Preceded by | Peyton Randolph |
| Succeeded by | Peyton Randolph |
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| Born | 1717 near Charleston, South Carolina |
| Died | June 13, 1784 (aged 66–67) Charleston, South Carolina |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Williams |
Henry Middleton (1717 – June 13, 1784) was a plantation owner and public official from South Carolina. He was the second President of the Continental Congress from October 22, 1774, until Peyton Randolph was able to resume his duties briefly beginning on May 10, 1775.
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[edit] Early life
Henry Middleton was born in 1717 near Charleston, South Carolina to Arthur Middleton (1681–1737) and Susan Amory Middleton, on the family plantation, "The Oaks". His father was a wealthy planter who had served as an acting governor of the Province of South Carolina. He was educated in England, but then returned to South Carolina to inherit his father's plantation. He gained much influence and authority from his wealth and abundant landownings, which included 50,000 acres (200 km2) of land in South Carolina, along with about 800 slaves.[1]
[edit] Political career
[edit] State politics
Middleton started his career by becoming a Justice of Peace, and soon after, a member of the King's Council in America. He became a member of the South Carolina House of Commons where he was elected speaker a total of 3 times.[1] He became Commissioner of Native American Affairs in 1755, and was elected to the South Carolina Colonial Council.[2] Middleton gained recognition for his courageous, calm and steady temperament during the Anglo-Cherokee War between 1760 and 1761. He resigned from public offices in 1770, to focus on business.[2]
[edit] Continental Congress
In 1774, Middleton was elected as a delegate from South Carolina to the First Continental Congress. During tenure as a member of the Congress, Middleton was not a supporter of immediate independence from Great Britain, himself remaining loyal to the crown.[1] In October 1774, Middleton was elected as the President of Continental Congress[1], when previous president Peyton Randolph was forced to return to Virginia to take his position as Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses.[2] Although Middleton's term was only for a length of 4 days, a Petition of Congress to King George III, drafted by John Jay was approved, and sent to Great Britain during his term.[2] Randolph was re-elected as president of the second congress in 1775 in which Middleton also served as a delegate until his resignation in 1776, citing ill health.[1] He was succeeded by his son, Arthur Middleton.
[edit] Back to state politics
Middleton returned to South Carolina and was elected President of the Provincial Congress of South Carolina.[2] When Charleston was captured by the British in 1780, Middleton accepted defeat and status as a British subject. This reversal apparently did not damage his reputation in the long run, due to his previous support of the Revolution, and he did not suffer the fate of having his estates confiscated, as Loyalists did after the war.[3]
[edit] Death
Middleton died on June 13, 1784 in Charleston. He was entombed in the gardens at Middleton Place, on Ashley River Road in Charleston County, South Carolina.[2]
[edit] Personal life
Middleton married Mary Williams in 1741,[4] and had 7 daughters and 5 sons. After Williams died in 1761, Middleton would go on to marry twice more, but he would not have more children.[2] Middleton's son, Arthur (1742-1787) would also get involved in politics, succeeding his father as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress in 1776, after his resignation, and, later on, sign the Declaration of Independence. His grandson, also named Henry (1770–1846), had a long career in politics. He was Governor of South Carolina (1810–1812), U.S. Representative (1815–1819), and the minister to Russia (1820–1830).
Several of Middleton's other children married into prominent families. Hester married S.C. Lt. Governor Charles Drayton, grandson of South Carolina Governor William Bull. Henrietta married Governor Edward Rutledge, and Sarah was the first wife of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f "Portrait of a Gentleman, thought to be Henry Middleton (1717-1784) c.1771". philipmould.com. http://www.philipmould.com/catalogue.php?p=aa&sid=2235. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g Stanley L. Klos (2000). "Henry Middleton". virtualology.com. http://virtualology.com/uspresidents/henrymiddleton.com/. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
- ^ John G. Van Deusen, "Middleton, Henry", Dictionary of American Biography (revised edition, New York: Scribner's, 1961), 6:600.
- ^ "Magnolia Plantation Charleston". plantations.sc. http://www.plantations.sc/content,middleton-place/. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
[edit] External links
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Peyton Randolph |
President of the First Continental Congress October 22, 1774– October 26, 1774 |
Succeeded by Peyton Randolph (as President of the Second Continental Congress) |
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