History of Orangeburg, (Orangeburg County) South Carolina United States of America

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Biographies:

The Biography of Laurence Massillon Keitt

Laurence Massillon Keitt, representative, was born in Orangeburg, S.C., Oct. 4, 1824. He was graduated from South Carolina college in 1843, and was admitted to the bar in 1845. He was a representative in the state legislature in 1848 and representative from the seventh South Carolina district in the 33d, 34th, 35th, 36th congresses, 1853-60. He resigned in December, 1860; was a delegate to the South Carolina convention that adopted the ordinance of secession, and was one of the deputies who met in convention at Montgomery, Ala., in 1861, and organized the Confederate States government and its provisional congress. He was commissioned colonel of the 20th South Carolina volunteers in 1862, and participated in the battles of the Army of Northern Virginia, the defence of the forts in Charleston harbor, S.C., and the battles of the Wilderness, receiving a mortal wound at the battle of Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864. He was sent home to Richmond, Va., where he died, June 4, 1864.

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