History of Goose Creek, (Berkeley County) South Carolina United States of America

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Arthur Middleton, signer, was born at Middleton Place, on the Ashley river, S.C., June 26, 1742; son of Henry (1717-1784) and Mary (Williams) Middleton: He attended Harrow school, 1754-56; Westminster school, 1756-60, and was graduated at the University of Cambridge in 1764. He traveled in Europe, 1764, and was a member of the commons house, 1765-75. He was married in 1768 to Mary, daughter of Walter Izard, and in 1869-73 visited England, France and Spain. He settled on his father's estate, Middleton Place, in 1773, and became a leader in the cause of liberty. He was one of the committee of five who led the populace into the royal magazine and removed the deposits, April 17, 1775, and was appointed by the provincial congress a member of the committee of safety, June 14, 1775, with the authority to organize a military force. He was chosen by the provisional congress of South Carolina one of a committee of eleven to prepare and report a form of government for the colony in February, 1776. In that year he succeeded his father as a delegate from South Carolina to the Continental congress, and he signed the Declaration of Independence. He was an intimate friend of John Hancock, and during his term in congress kept house with him and dispensed lavish hospitality. In 1777 he returned to South Carolina; was elected governor in 1778 to take the place of John Rutledge, resigned, but declined the office, which was taken by Rawlins Lowndes. In 1779, when the British were devastating South Carolina, he joined the staff of Governor Rutledge and served in the defense of Charleston. His estate was ravaged by the British soldiers and valuables carried away or wantonly destroyed, although the buildings were spared. At the surrender of Charleston in 1780, he was among the prisoners sent by sea to the Spanish castle at St. Augustine, Florida. He was exchanged in July, 1781, returned to Philadelphia, and was a delegate to congress, 1781-82. In November, 1782, he returned to South Carolina to assist in restoring stability to the new government, and he served in the state legislature as senator or representative up to the time of his death. He was a skilled stenographer and wrote out many of the debates in congress in which he took part. He is the author of several political essays signed "Andrew Marvewll." He died at Goose Creek, S.C., Jan. 1, 1787.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Goose Creek, (Berkeley County) South Carolina

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