John Rutledge

1739 - 1800  (60 years)

• Name	John Rutledge
  Birth	9 Sep 1739	Charleston, South Carolina, USA
  Gender	Male
  Death	23 Jul 1800	Charleston, South Carolina, USA
  Person ID	I76189	My Genealogy
  Last Modified	20 Jan 2014

  
  

  Children	1. Elizabeth Rutledge,   b. 25 Jan 1776, Charleston , South Carolina, USA d. 1842, South Carolina, USA (Age 65 years)
  Family ID	F27631	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	20 Jan 2014

  
  

• Notes

  RUTLEDGE, John, chief justice, was born in Charleston, S.C., in 1739; son of Dr. John Rutledge, who emigrated from Ireland in 1735, married a Miss Hexe, and died in 1749, at Charleston. He studied law at the Temple, London, returned to Charleston in 1761, established a practice, and was married in 1763, to Elizabeth Grimké. He was attorney-general pro tempore, in 1764, a delegate to the Continental congress, 1774?77 and 1782?83; a member of the provincial convention of 1774; chairman of the committee that framed the constitution of 1776; and on March 27, 1776, was elected president of the provincial government and commander-in-chief of the militia. He advocated the fortification of Charleston against the threatened invasion by Sir Henry Clinton and Commodore Parker; held the post on Sullivan's Island, contrary to the advice of Gen. Charles Lee, and planned the successful defence of Charleston. He resigned his office in March, 1778, as he did not approve of the changes made in the state constitution, but was again chosen governor by the unanimous vote of the legislature in 1779. He commanded the militia against Gen. Augustine Provost, in May, 1779, and when Charleston was captured May 12, 1779, by Sir Henry Clinton, he left the city with his council and took refuge in North Carolina, and used every effort to relieve the city by cooperating with Generals Gates and Greene in reorganizing the army. His term of office ended in 1782, and he was succeeded by Governor Matthews. He was elected state chancellor, March 21, 1784; was a delegate to the Philadelphia convention that adopted the Federal constitution; was a member of the state convention that ratified the constitution; a delegate from South Carolina in the national convention to elect a president and vice-president in 1789, and received six electoral votes. On Sept. 26, 1789, he was appointed an associate justice of the supreme court of the United States, serving 1789?91; was chief justice of South Carolina, 1791?95; and was appointed chief justice of the United States supreme court by President Washington in 1795. He presided at the August term of the court, but on Dec. 15, 1795, the senate refused to confirm the nomination. His mind failed in December, 1795, and he died at Charleston, S.C., July 23, 1800. [p.205]