John Drayton

For other people named John Drayton, see John Drayton (disambiguation).

John Drayton
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
In office May 7, 1812 – November 27, 1822
Appointed by	James Madison
Preceded by	Thomas Bee
Succeeded by	Thomas Lee
40th Governor of South Carolina
In office January 23, 1800 – December 8, 1802
Lieutenant	Richard Winn
Preceded by	Edward Rutledge
Succeeded by	James Burchill Richardson
In office December 10, 1808 – December 8, 1810
Lieutenant	Frederick Nance
Preceded by	Charles Pinckney
Succeeded by	Henry Middleton
Member of the South Carolina Senate from St. Phillip's and St. Michael's Parish
In office November 26, 1804 – December 7, 1808
18th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
In office December 18, 1798 – January 23, 1800
Governor	Edward Rutledge
Preceded by	Robert Anderson
Succeeded by	Richard Winn
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from St. Phillip's and St. Michael's Parish
In office November 26, 1792 – December 8, 1798
Personal details
Born	(1766-06-22)June 22, 1766 Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, South Carolina
Died	November 27, 1822(1822-11-27) (aged 56)
Resting place	Charleston, South Carolina
Alma mater	College of New Jersey

John Drayton (June 22, 1766 – November 27, 1822) was a South Carolinian judge and politician; he was Governor of South Carolina from 1800 to 1802 and 1808 to 1810. As governor, he was noted for establishing South Carolina College, and for championing the removal of property restrictions on the franchise. He served as a United States district judge in South Carolina from 1812 until his death.

Early life and career

Drayton was born on Magnolia Plantation on the Ashley River in St. Andrews Parish near Charleston. He was educated at the College of New Jersey during the American Revolutionary War and afterward read law at Inner Temple in London to prepare as an attorney.

He began private practice in Charleston from 1788 to 1794. He resumed from 1796 to 1798. He also served as a warden of the City of Charleston in 1788.

Political career

Early rise

In 1792, Drayton was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and was a member until 1798, when the General Assembly elected him as the 18th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. Upon the death of Edward Rutledge on January 23, 1800, Drayton was elected by the General Assembly to become Governor of South Carolina for the remainder of the term. They chose him to serve out a full two-year term in 1800 because of his strong republicanism.

South Carolina College

The most important act during Drayton's first full term was the establishment of South Carolina College. Drayton had pushed for a state-funded college immediately when he became governor upon the death of Edward Rutledge, but it was not until after his election that the General Assembly created and provide funds for a college. The location of Columbia near the State House was favored by Drayton because it was a central location that would provide an opportunity at higher education for all white male South Carolinians. In addition, he intended for the future leaders of South Carolina to be educated together in order to quell any divisions between the Lowcountry and the Backcountry. The General Assembly followed the direction of Governor Drayton and appropriated $50,000 to construct the college in Columbia and another 46,000 for the salaries of the faculty.

Second time as governor

Upon leaving the governorship in 1802, Drayton returned to Charleston. The General Assembly elected him to the South Carolina Senate in 1805. After three years, the General Assembly elected Drayton for a second two-year term as governor in 1808. Drayton and the General Assembly continued the Republican reforms by expanding the suffrage to all white men, regardless of status or wealth.

Later life and career

After leaving the governorship for a final time, Drayton returned to private practice until 1812. On May 5, 1812, he was nominated by President James Madison to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina vacated by Thomas Bee. Drayton was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 7, 1812, and received his commission the same day, serving on the bench until his death.

Drayton issued perhaps the earliest judicial decision holding that, under the laws of the United States, slaves captured in time of war on enemy ships could not be claimed as property.

A productive writer, Drayton authored several works related to South Carolina:

• Carolinian Florist
• A View of South Carolina, as Respects Her Natural and Civil Concerns
• Memoirs of the American Revolution from its Commencement to the Year 1776.

On November 27, 1822, Drayton died. He was buried in Charleston.

Further sources

• Wallace, David Duncan (1951). South Carolina: A Short History. University of North Carolina Press. pp. 358, 473.
• Wolfe, John Harold (1940). Jeffersonian Democracy in South Carolina. University of North Carolina Press. pp. 171–173.
• John Drayton at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

External links

• SCIway Biography of John Drayton
• NGA Biography of John Drayton