NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Christopher Gadsden

Christopher Gadsden (1724-1805) was an American general and statesman during the American Revolution. He became the principal leader of the South Carolina radicals in the pre-Revolutionary period. He was a delegate for South Carolina in the Continental Congress and a Brigadier General of the state's forces during the Revolutionary War. Events January 14 - King Philip V of Spain abdicates the throne February 20 - The premiere of Giulio Cesare, an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel, takes place in London June 23 - Treaty of Constantinople signed. ... 1805 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The American Revolution was an upheaval that ended British control of middle North America, resulting in the formation of the United States of America in 1776. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston(1670-1789) Columbia(1790-present) Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Greenville-Spartanburg Area Ranked 40th - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 kmÂ²) - Width 200 miles (320 km) - Length 260 miles (420 km) - % water 6 - Latitude 32Â°430N to 35Â°12... The Continental Congress is the label given to three successive bodies of representatives: The First Continental Congress met from September 5, 1774 to October 26, 1774. ... Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, Netherlands, Spain, Native Americans Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, Native Americans Commanders George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, Nathanael Greene William Howe, Henry Clinton, Charles Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775â€“1783), also known as the American War of Independence,[1] was a war between...

1 Early life
2 Revolutionary years
3 Later life
4 See also
5 External links
6 Further reading

Early life

Christopher was born on February 16, 1723/4 at Charleston, South Carolina. He was the son of Thomas Gadsden, who had served in the British Navy before becoming custom's collector for the port of Charleston. Christopher was sent to school near Bristol, in England, and returned to America in 1741 to go to work in a counting house in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He entered into mercantile ventures on his own account as well, and by 1747 he had earned enough to return to South Carolina and buy back the land his father had lost by gambling in 1733. February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events January 14 - King Philip V of Spain abdicates the throne February 20 - The premiere of Giulio Cesare, an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel, takes place in London June 23 - Treaty of Constantinople signed. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Holy City, The Palmetto City Motto: Aedes Mores Juraque Curat (She cares for her temples, customs, and rights) Location Location of Charleston in South Carolina. ... The Royal Navy is the navy of the United Kingdom. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Greater Bristol. ... This article belongs in one or more categories. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates , Government Country State County United States Pennsylvania Philadelphia Founded Incorporated October 27, 1682 October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Geographical characteristics Area City 369. ...

Gadsden began his rise to prominence as a merchant and patriot in Charleston. He prospered as a merchant, and built the wharf in Charleston that still bears his name. He served as Captain of a militia company during a 1759 expedition against the Cherokee Indians. He was first elected to the colonial assembly in 1760, and began a long friction with autocratic Royal Governors. 1759 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see Cherokee (disambiguation). ... 1760 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1765 the assembly made him one of their delegates to the Stamp Act Congress called to protest the Stamp Act. While his fellow delegates Thomas Lynch and John Rutledge served on committees to draft appeals to the House of Lords and Commons respectively, Gadsden refused any such assignment, since in his view Parliament had no rights in the matter. He addressed himself with outspoken support for the Declaration of Rights produced by the Congress. His addresses brought him to the attention of Samuel Adams of Massachusetts and the two began a long correspondence and friendship. 1765 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Stamp Act Congress was a meeting in October of 1765 of delegates from the American Colonies that discussed and acted upon the recently passed Stamp Act. ... The Stamp Act 1765 (short title Duties in American Colonies Act 1765; 5 George III, c. ... Other notable people share this name. ... John Rutledge (September 17, 1739 â€“ July 18, 1800) was Governor of South Carolina, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and served on the U.S. Supreme Court (Chief Justice from August to December 1795). ... This article is about the British House of Lords. ... The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Samuel Adams (September 27, 1722 â€“ October 2, 1803) was an American Patriot and organizer of the Boston Tea Party. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area Ranked 44th - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 kmÂ²) - Width 183 miles (295 km) - Length 113 miles (182 km) - % water 13. ...

Revolutionary years

On his return from New York City, Gadsden became one of the founders and leaders of the Charleston Sons of Liberty. He had risen to the rank of Lt. Colonel in the militia, and when the formal break came with the old government in 1775, he was made Colonel of the 1st South Carolina regiment of militia. In 1774 his fellow Assembly members elected him to be a delegate to the Continental Congress. In 1775 his status was renewed, this time by an election held throughout the state. He left the Congress early in 1776 as active war became imminent in South Carolina. Flag Seal Nickname: Big Apple Location Location in the state of New York Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area City 1,214. ... The Sons of Liberty was a label adopted by Patriots in the British North American colonies before the American Revolution. ... Chesma Column in Tsarskoe Selo, commemorating the end of the Russo-Turkish War. ... The Continental Congress is the label given to three successive bodies of representatives: The First Continental Congress met from September 5, 1774 to October 26, 1774. ... 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the year 1776. ...

In February of 1776, South Carolina President John Rutledge named him a Brigadier General in charge of the state's military. That same year he had his first difficulty with the Continental Army command structure. As the British prepared to attack Charleston, General Charles Lee ordered outlying positions abandoned. Rutledge and the local officers disagreed. This time a compromise was reached and as William Moultrie prepared the defenses on Sullivan's Island, Gadsden paid for, and his regiment built a bridge that would allow their escape if the position were threatened. The British attack was repulsed. John Rutledge (September 17, 1739 â€“ July 18, 1800) was Governor of South Carolina, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and served on the U.S. Supreme Court (Chief Justice from August to December 1795). ... Illustration depicting uniforms and weapons used during the 1779 to 1783 period of the American Revolution by showing four soldiers standing in an informal group General George Washington, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army on June 15, 1775. ... Charles Lee Charles Lee (1732â€“1782) was a British soldier turned Virginia planter who was a Major General of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. ... William Moultrie (pronounced Mool-tree), 1730â€”1805, American Revolutionary general, b. ... Sullivans Island is a town located in Charleston County, South Carolina. ...

The Continental Army

Lieutenant Governor

In 1778, Gadsden was a member of the South Carolina convention that drafted a new state constitution. That same year he has named the Lieutenant Governor, to replace Henry Laurens who was away at the Continental Congress. He would serve in that office until 1780. Actually, for the first year and a half his office was called Vice President of South Carolina, but when the new constitution was adopted, the title was changed to the modern usage. 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Henry Laurens (1724â€“1792) was an American merchant and planter from South Carolina who became a political leader during the Revolutionary War. ...

When the British laid siege to Charleston in 1780, John Randolph, as president of the council fled to North Carolina to ensure a government in exile. should the city fall. Gadsden remained, along with Governor Rawlins Lowndes. General Lincoln surrendered the Continental Army garrison on May 12 to General Sir Henry Clinton. At the same time, Gadsden represented the civil government and surrendered the city. He was sent to his Charleston house, on parole. This article needs cleanup. ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Rawlins Lowndes (1722–1800) was an American lawyer and jurist from South Carolina. ... Benjamin Lincoln ( 1733– 1810) was a General on the American side in the American Revolutionary War. ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... General Sir Henry Clinton K.B. Commander-in-Chief of British troops in America. ...

Prisoner of war

After Clinton returned to New York the new British commander in the south, General Cornwallis changed the rules. On the morning of August 27, he arrested about 20 of the civil officers then on parole. They were marched as prisoners to a ship and taken to St. Augustine, Florida. When they arrived Governor Tonyn offered the freedom of the town if they would give their parole. Most accepted, but Gadsden refused claiming that the British had already violated one parole, and he couldn't give his word to a false system. As a result, he spent the next 42 weeks in solitary confinement in a dungeon at the old Spanish fortress of Castillo de San Marcos. When they were finally released in 1781, they were sent by merchant ship to Philadelphia. Once there, Gadsden learned of the defeat of Cornwallis at Cowpens and withdrawal to Yorktown. He hurried home, to help the restoration of South Carolina's civil government. Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (December 31, 1738 â€“ October 5, 1805) was an English military commander and colonial governor. ... August 27 is the 239th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (240th in leap years), with 126 days remaining. ... St. ... Patrick Tonyn (1725-1804) was a British General who served as colonial governor of East Florida from 1775 to 1783. ... Combatants United States Great Britain Commanders Daniel Morgan Banastre Tarleton Strength 1,000 1,100 Casualties 12 killed 61 wounded 110 killed 830 captured The Battle of Cowpens (1781) was an overwhelming victory by American revolutionary forces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan. ...

Later life

Gadsden was returned to the state's House of Representatives, then meeting at Jacksonboro. At this session, Governor Randolph and de-facto President Rutledge both surrendered their offices. Gadsden was elected as the Governor, but felt he had to decline. His health was still impaired from his imprisonment, and an active governor was needed since the British hadn't yet given up Charleston. So in 1782, John Mathews became the new governor. John Rutledge (September 17, 1739 â€“ July 18, 1800) was Governor of South Carolina, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and served on the U.S. Supreme Court (Chief Justice from August to December 1795). ... 1782 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... John Mathews (1744–November 17, 1802) was an American lawyer from Charleston, South Carolina. ...

Gadsden was also a member of the state Convention in 1788 and voted for ratification of the United States Constitution. He died from an accidental fall on September 15, 1805 in Charleston, and is buried in St. Phillip's Churchyard there. The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. ... September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ... 1805 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Gadsden's private life has had very little attention from biographers. He had at least two children; a daughter Elizabeth who married Andrew Rutledge; and a son Christopher Jr. The Gadsden purchase of Arizona was named for his grandson James Gadsden. James Gadsden (May 15, 1788 - December 25, 1858). ...

External links

Gadsden's Congressional biography
a longer on-line biography

Contents

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