Arthur Middleton - Signer of the Declartion of Independence Biography by
Appleton's edited by Stanley L. Klos
Arthur Middleton
Signer of the Declaration of Independence
ARTHUR MIDDLETON the eldest son of Henry
Middleton was born on June 26, 1742, at the family mansion Middleton Place, on
the banks of the Ashley River near Charleston, South Carolina. Middleton was
twelve when his father, the president of the First Continental Congress, sent
him to England for his education. He studied at Hackney, in London, for two
years and then moved on to Westminster. He received a thorough education in the
Greek and Roman classics, especially the former in which he is said to have
greatly excelled. The taste that he acquired for classical literature he
preserved through his life. Middleton then went on to Cambridge. His college
companions were frequently young men of dissipated habits, and young Middleton
was often powerfully tempted to enter into their youthful follies. Fortunately
he escaped the corruption of their insidious examples, and devoted himself to
the improvement of his mind. In his twenty-second year, he was graduated
bachelor of arts, and left the university with the reputation of an accomplished
scholar, and a moral man.
Arthur did not return to America upon his graduation. Because of his father's
wealth, he was able to travel extensively. After visiting several parts of
England, he proceeded to the continent, where he spent two years, chiefly in the
southern parts of Europe. He spent several months in Rome, greatly improving
his taste for music and painting. He even became well versed in the principles
of sculpture and architecture.
Soon after returning to South Carolina in 1763, he married Mary, the daughter of
Walter Izzard, Esq. Arthur became a justice of the peace and served as a
delegate to the provincial assembly. However, still having a fondness for
traveling, he and his wife again embarked on an extended visit to Europe in
1768. This time they visited many places in England, and proceeding to the
continent, they passed through several of the principal cities of France and
Spain.
In
1773, Middleton once more returned to America, and now settled down on the
delightful banks of the Ashley at Middleton Place, where he acquired vast rice
plantations. The Middleton's were at this time, men of great wealth, and the
approaching controversy between Great Britain and the colonies might have been
viewed with great concern, had not their patriotism preferred the welfare of
their country to their private interests. A war with Britain would jeopardize
the wealth that had long been enjoyed by the family. Both father and son, in the
spirit that had long characterized the family, stood forth in the defense of the
rights of the colonies.
In May
1776, Middleton joined the Second Congress and championed the cause for colonial
rights. He actively opposed British rule despite his obvious love for the mother
country. Despite his English education, he was ruthless toward Loyalists. Like
other leaders in South Carolina, he was motivated chiefly by local
patriotism. He was a member of the council of safety that virtually ruled the
province until a provisional government was set up in the spring of 1776, and he
was a member of the large committee that drew the constitution for South
Carolina. His activity in these provincial affairs delayed his departure for
Congress. In May 1776, Arthur Middleton took the seat vacated by his father. He
was re-elected the next year but never spent much time in Philadelphia
sessions. He spoke frequently when present but did not like routine business. At
the close 1777, Middleton relinquished his seat in Congress, and returned to
South Carolina, leaving behind him, the character of a man of the purest
patriotism, of sound judgment, and unwavering resolution.
During the year 1779, the southern states became
the principal theater of the war. Many of the plantations were needlessly
raided, and the families and their personal property were open to the insults
and devastation of the enemy. Middleton Place did not escape. Although the
buildings were spared, they were looted of every thing valuable. Anything that
could not be easily carried was either destroyed or greatly damaged. Middleton
owned a valuable collection of paintings that was mutilated by the advancing
march of troops. Fortunately, the family had made their escape north of
Charleston before the British visited Middleton Place.
Middleton was actively engaged in the defense of
Charleston in 1780. With several others he was taken prisoner, and was sent by
sea to St. Augustine, in East Florida, where he was kept in confinement for
nearly a year. In July 1781, he was exchanged, and proceeded in a cartel to
Philadelphia. In November 1782, he returned to South Carolina on a visit to his
family, from whom he had been separated for along and anxious period.
On the signing the preliminaries of peace,
Middleton declined accepting a seat in congress, preferring the pleasures of
retirement with his family. He occasionally accepted a seat in the state
legislature, in which he was greatly instrumental in promoting the tranquility
and happiness of his fellow citizens.
In
the winter of his forty-fifth year, 1786, Middleton contracted a
fever. Middleton died on January 1, 1787.
Presidential $1 Coin Controversy - --
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Forgotten Founders vs. U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson
Samuel
Huntington
First President of the
United States of America
in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to July 6, 1781
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