John Drayton
Encyclopedia
John Drayton was the 40th Governor
of South Carolina
on two non-consecutive occasions from 1800 to 1802 and 1808 to 1810, and was later a United States federal judge
.
. He was educated at the College of New Jersey
during the American Revolutionary War
and afterwards read law at Inner Temple
in London
. Drayton received an LL.D from South Carolina College
in 1807, an institution he helped establish. He was in private practice in Charleston from 1788 to 1794, and from 1796 to 1798, serving also as a warden of the City of Charleston in 1788.
and was a member until 1798 when the General Assembly
elected him as Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. Upon the death of Edward Rutledge
on January 23, 1800, Drayton became Governor of South Carolina
for the remainder of the term. The General Assembly chose him to serve out a full two-year term in 1800 because of his strong Republicanism
.
near the State House
was favored by Drayton because it was a central location that would provide an opportunity at higher education for all South Carolinians. In addition, it was hoped that the future leaders of South Carolina would be educated together in order to quell any divisions between the Lowcountry
and the Backcountry
. Indeed, the General Assembly followed the direction of Governor Drayton and appropriated fifty thousand dollars to construct the college in Columbia and another six thousand for the salaries of the faculty.
in 1805 and after three years, the General Assembly chose Drayton for a second two-year term as governor in 1808. Drayton and the General Assembly continued the Republican reforms and expanded the suffrage to all white men, regardless of status or wealth.
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. An avid writer, Drayton authored several works with regards to South Carolina: Carolinian Florist, A View of South Carolina, as Respects Her Natural and Civil Concerns and Memoirs of the American Revolution from its Commencement to the Year 1776. On November 27, 1822, Drayton died and was buried in Charleston.
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...
on two non-consecutive occasions from 1800 to 1802 and 1808 to 1810, and was later a United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Early life and career
Drayton was born on Magnolia Plantation in St. Andrews Parish near CharlestonCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. He was educated at the College of New Jersey
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
during the American 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...
and afterwards read law at Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Drayton received an LL.D from South Carolina College
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
in 1807, an institution he helped establish. He was in private practice in Charleston from 1788 to 1794, and from 1796 to 1798, serving also as a warden of the City of Charleston in 1788.
Early rise
In 1792, Drayton was elected to the South Carolina House of RepresentativesSouth 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 was a member until 1798 when 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...
elected him as Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. Upon the death of Edward Rutledge
Edward Rutledge
Edward Rutledge 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:...
on January 23, 1800, Drayton became 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...
for the remainder of the term. The General Assembly chose him to serve out a full two-year term in 1800 because of his strong Republicanism
Republicanism in the United States
Republicanism is the political value system that has been a major part of American civic thought since the American Revolution. It stresses liberty and inalienable rights as central values, makes the people as a whole sovereign, supports activist government to promote the common good, rejects...
.
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 pushed to create and provide funds for a college. The location of ColumbiaColumbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
near the State House
South Carolina State House
The South Carolina State House is the building housing the government of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The building houses the South Carolina General Assembly and the offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. Until 1971, it also housed the Supreme Court...
was favored by Drayton because it was a central location that would provide an opportunity at higher education for all South Carolinians. In addition, it was hoped that the future leaders of South Carolina would be educated together in order to quell any divisions between the Lowcountry
South Carolina Low Country
The Lowcountry is a geographic and cultural region located along South Carolina's coast. The region includes the South Carolina Sea Islands...
and the Backcountry
The Upstate
The Upstate is the region in northwestern South Carolina, United States, also known as The Upcountry, which is the historical term. Although loosely defined among locals, the general definition includes the 10 counties of the commerce-rich I-85 corridor in the northwest corner of South Carolina. ...
. Indeed, the General Assembly followed the direction of Governor Drayton and appropriated fifty thousand dollars to construct the college in Columbia and another six thousand for the salaries of the faculty.
Second time as governor
Upon leaving the governorship in 1802, Drayton returned to Charleston where he won election to the South Carolina SenateSouth 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 1805 and after three years, the General Assembly chose Drayton for a second two-year term as governor in 1808. Drayton and the General Assembly continued the Republican reforms and expanded 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 MadisonJames Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
The United States District Court for the District of South Carolina is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of South Carolina...
vacated by Thomas Bee
Thomas Bee
Thomas Bee was an American planter, lawyer, and jurist from Charleston, South Carolina. He served as Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina and was a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1780 to 1782...
. Drayton was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on May 7, 1812, and received his commission the same day, serving on the bench until his death. An avid writer, Drayton authored several works with regards to South Carolina: Carolinian Florist, A View of South Carolina, as Respects Her Natural and Civil Concerns and Memoirs of the American Revolution from its Commencement to the Year 1776. On November 27, 1822, Drayton died and was buried in Charleston.