William Mayrant
Encyclopedia
William Mayrant was a U.S. Representative
from South Carolina
.
William Mayrant was elected in 1814 as a Democratic-Republican
to the Fourteenth Congress
and served until his resignation on October 21, 1816 (March 4, 1815-October 21, 1816). He was elected to his first and only term as a member of the US House of Representatives, from his home at Stateburg
, near what is now Sumter, SC. He represented South Carolina's 9th congressional district
. Mayrant voted in favor of the Tariff of 1816
, which most southerners opposed because they believed it placed them at a financial disadvantage by unfairly raising prices on northern and European made finished goods, while lowering the price of southern raw materials, especially cotton. As a result of this vote, Mayrant lost his 1816 bid for reelection. He resigned before the completion of his first term. Though his name was placed on the ballot again for the election of 1816, he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection. Mayrant was succeeded by Nullifier Stephen Decatur Miller
, who advocated tariff repeal.
After leaving Congress, Mayrant returned to his business and plantation interests. He also served as member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from 1818 to 1821.
Born at Charleston, to a prominent family from South Carolina, William Woodrop Mayrant was the son of John Mayrant and Ann Woodruff or Woodrup. Soon after the American Revolution, Mayrant studied law and became an attorney. He was a successful businessman and plantation owner, with interests in rice farming and one of South Carolina's first textile factories. Mayrant held the rank of Colonel in the South Carolina militia. After his 1787 marriage to Ann Richardson Mayrant (1771-1840) he established a Stateburg home he called called "Ararat" which subsequent owners renamed "Argyle House". He later owned and operated a plantation called "High Hills".
William Mayrant died in 1832 and was buried at Church of the Holy Cross
, near his home in Stateburg, Sumter County, SC.
Additional Reference: Two Letters by William Mayrant on His Cotton Factory, 1815, by Ernest M. Lander, Jr.
The South Carolina Historical Magazine
Vol. 54, No. 1 (Jan., 1953), pp. 1-5.
Published by: South Carolina Historical Society
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27565884
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 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...
.
William Mayrant was elected in 1814 as a Democratic-Republican
Democratic-Republican Party (United States)
The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along...
to the Fourteenth Congress
14th United States Congress
- Senate :* President: Vacant* President pro tempore: John Gaillard of South Carolina, first elected December 4, 1815- House of Representatives :* Speaker: Henry Clay of Kentucky-Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
and served until his resignation on October 21, 1816 (March 4, 1815-October 21, 1816). He was elected to his first and only term as a member of the US House of Representatives, from his home at Stateburg
Stateburg, South Carolina
Stateburg is a census-designated place in the High Hills of Santee in Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,264 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Sumter, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, near what is now Sumter, SC. He represented South Carolina's 9th congressional district
South Carolina's 9th congressional district
The 9th Congressional District of South Carolina was a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in South Carolina. It was created in 1813 as a result of the 1810 Census and eliminated in 1843 as a result of the 1840 Census. The district was last represented by Patrick...
. Mayrant voted in favor of the Tariff of 1816
Dallas tariff
The United States passed the Tariff of 1816 and enforced it between 1816 and 1824.Introduced following a report from Secretary of the Treasury Alexander J. Dallas and adopted by the Fourteenth Congress, the tariff was staunchly supported by Henry Clay, then Speaker of the House, who saw the measure...
, which most southerners opposed because they believed it placed them at a financial disadvantage by unfairly raising prices on northern and European made finished goods, while lowering the price of southern raw materials, especially cotton. As a result of this vote, Mayrant lost his 1816 bid for reelection. He resigned before the completion of his first term. Though his name was placed on the ballot again for the election of 1816, he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection. Mayrant was succeeded by Nullifier Stephen Decatur Miller
Stephen Decatur Miller
Stephen Decatur Miller was an American politician, who served as the 52nd Governor of South Carolina from 1828 to 1830. He represented South Carolina as a U.S. Representative from 1817 to 1819, and as a U.S. Senator from 1831 to 1833.He was born in Waxhaw settlement, South Carolina and graduated...
, who advocated tariff repeal.
After leaving Congress, Mayrant returned to his business and plantation interests. He also served as member of 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...
from 1818 to 1821.
Born at Charleston, to a prominent family from South Carolina, William Woodrop Mayrant was the son of John Mayrant and Ann Woodruff or Woodrup. Soon after the American Revolution, Mayrant studied law and became an attorney. He was a successful businessman and plantation owner, with interests in rice farming and one of South Carolina's first textile factories. Mayrant held the rank of Colonel in the South Carolina militia. After his 1787 marriage to Ann Richardson Mayrant (1771-1840) he established a Stateburg home he called called "Ararat" which subsequent owners renamed "Argyle House". He later owned and operated a plantation called "High Hills".
William Mayrant died in 1832 and was buried at Church of the Holy Cross
Church of the Holy Cross (Stateburg, South Carolina)
Church of the Holy Cross, also known as the Holy Cross Episcopal Church, is an historic church in Stateburg, in the High Hills of Santee near Sumter, South Carolina. It is located on land donated earlier by General Thomas Sumter, a resident of Stateburg, and its walls were constructed of rammed...
, near his home in Stateburg, Sumter County, SC.
Additional Reference: Two Letters by William Mayrant on His Cotton Factory, 1815, by Ernest M. Lander, Jr.
The South Carolina Historical Magazine
Vol. 54, No. 1 (Jan., 1953), pp. 1-5.
Published by: South Carolina Historical Society
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27565884