James Burchill Richardson
Encyclopedia
James Burchill Richardson (October 28, 1770 April 28, 1836) was the 41st Governor
of South Carolina
from 1802 to 1804.
Born in Clarendon County to Richard Richardson, a famed Revolutionary War
leader, he received his education at the local schools in Clarendon County and afterwards engaged in planting at the Richardsons' Big Home Plantation. In 1792, Richardson was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
and served for ten years. The General Assembly
chose him to be Governor of South Carolina
in 1802 for a two-year term. During his time as governor, the legislature repealed laws against the traffic of slaves, but prohibited the importation of slaves under the age of fifteen from other states.
Upon leaving the governorship in 1804, Richardson returned as a member of the state House of Representatives. He won election to the South Carolina Senate
in 1806 and served until 1814. From 1816 to 1818, Richardson was a member of the state House of Representatives for a third and final time. He spent the rest of his life on his plantation where he died on April 28, 1836 and was interred at the Richardson Cemetery.
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
from 1802 to 1804.
Born in Clarendon County to Richard Richardson, a famed Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
leader, he received his education at the local schools in Clarendon County and afterwards engaged in planting at the Richardsons' Big Home Plantation. In 1792, Richardson was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
and served for ten years. The General Assembly
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
chose him to be Governor of South Carolina
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
in 1802 for a two-year term. During his time as governor, the legislature repealed laws against the traffic of slaves, but prohibited the importation of slaves under the age of fifteen from other states.
Upon leaving the governorship in 1804, Richardson returned as a member of the state House of Representatives. He won election to the South Carolina Senate
South Carolina Senate
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
in 1806 and served until 1814. From 1816 to 1818, Richardson was a member of the state House of Representatives for a third and final time. He spent the rest of his life on his plantation where he died on April 28, 1836 and was interred at the Richardson Cemetery.