Edward Rutledge

Edward Rutledge
39th Governor of South Carolina
In office December 18, 1798 – January 23, 1800
Preceded by	Charles Pinckney
Succeeded by	John Drayton
Personal details
Born	November 23, 1749(1749-11-23) Charleston, South Carolina
Died	January 23, 1800(1800-01-23) (aged 50) Charleston, South Carolina
Political party	Federalist
Spouse(s)	Henrietta Middleton, Mary Shubrick Eveleigh
Religion	Christian-Anglican
Signature

Edward Rutledge (November 23, 1749 – January 23, 1800) was an American politician and youngest signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. He later served as the 39th Governor of South Carolina.

Early years and career

Like his eldest brother John Rutledge, Edward was born in Charleston. He was the youngest of seven children (5 sons and 2 daughters) born to Dr. John Rutledge and Sarah Hext in 1749. He studied law at Oxford University and was admitted to the English bar (Middle Temple), and returned to Charleston to practice. He was married, on March 1, 1774, Henrietta Middleton (November 17, 1750 – April 22, 1792), daughter of Henry Middleton. The couple had three children;

• Maj. Henry Middleton Rutledge (April 5, 1775 – January 20, 1844)
• Edward Rutledge (March 20, 1778–1780)
• Sarah Rutledge (1782–1855)

Rutledge had a successful law practice with his partner, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. He became a leading citizen of Charleston, and owned more than 50 slaves.

American Revolution

Along with his brother John, Rutledge represented South Carolina in the Continental Congress. He worked to have African Americans expelled from the Continental Army. Although a firm supporter of colonial rights, he (as a delegate) was instructed initially to oppose Lee's Resolution of independence; South Carolina's leaders were unsure that the time was "ripe." By early July, 1776, he was instructed to vote in favor. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no evidence that he opposed the anti-slavery clause in the Declaration. At age 26 he was the youngest to sign the Declaration of Independence.

He returned home in November 1776 to take a seat in the South Carolina Assembly. He served as a captain of artillery in the South Carolina militia, and fought at the Battle of Beaufort in 1779. The next year he was captured by the British in the fall of Charleston, and held prisoner until July 1781.

Rutledge is standing on the far right in John Trumbull's famous painting The Declaration of Independence.

Later life and legacy

After his release he returned to the state assembly, where he served until 1796. He was known as an active member and an advocate for the confiscation of Loyalist property. He served in the state senate for two years, then was elected governor in 1798. He had to go to an important meeting in Columbia. While there he had to be sent home because of his gout. He died in Charleston before the end of his term. Some said at the time that he died from apoplexy resulting from hearing the news of George Washington's death.

The Edward Rutledge House in Charleston

In popular culture

Rutledge was a main character in the musical play 1776, in which he sings the song "Molasses to Rum" about slavery and the Triangle Trade. He is depicted as the secondary antagonist in the play in obstructing John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Rutledge was portrayed by Clifford David in the original Broadway production, and John Cullum in the 1972 film. 1776 claims that Rutledge led the opposition to an anti-slavery clause in the original draft of the Declaration. This is false on two counts. 1) The clause was the opposite of "anti-slavery" -- it complained about the freeing of slaves. The clause did complain about King George vetoing attempts to put tariffs on the slave trade -- an economic not moral issue in Jefferson's Virginia, where the slave trade was diluting the value of slaves-as-property. Georgia and South Carolina needed slaves-as-workers, and thus opposed Virginia's proposed tariffs on slaves. Jefferson expressed outrage that the Virginia tariff was vetoed, and with florid rhetoric called George a hypocrite (in effect) for supporting the slave trade -- but that wasn't the relevant point: The clause was included in the section of the Declaration concerning war grievances, and its specific grievance is that, following Lord Dunmore's Proclamation, England was granting freedom to runaway slaves who joined the army. So, as opposed to being "anti-slavery," the clause complained about the freeing of slaves. 2) Rutledge's leadership against the clause is completely fictional. According to Jefferson, the clause was opposed by South Carolina and Georgia, plus unspecified "northern brethren"; that is the limit of known information about opposition to the clause. Rutledge was a delegate from South Carolina, but there is not one item of evidence in the historical record that he played any part -- much less that of leader -- in the opposition to the clause.

In the 2008 miniseries John Adams, Rutledge was portrayed by Clancy O'Connor.

References

• Williams, Patrick G.. "Rutledge, Edward". American National Biography Online, February 2000.

External links

• Biography by Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, 1856
• SCIway Biography of Edward Rutledge
• NGA Biography of Edward Rutledge
• Edward Rutledge at Find a Grave

Political offices
Preceded by Charles Pinckney	Governor of South Carolina 1798–1800	Succeeded by John Drayton