Background
Francis Warrington Dawson was born on May 17, 1840 in London, England. He was the son of Austin and Mary Perkins Reeks.
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Francis Warrington Dawson was born on May 17, 1840 in London, England. He was the son of Austin and Mary Perkins Reeks.
Dawson promptly began literary work; four or five comedies from his pen were acted at the city theatres.
As a result of his studies and because of his romantic nature, he became an ardent partisan of the Southern States, and when Fort Sumter fell determined to enlist in their armed service.
The Confederate cruiser Nashville having run the blockade from Charleston and arrived at Southampton November 21, 1861, he hastened from London to present himself to its commander, Capt. Pegram, but this officer in view of Dawson’s youth refused to take him on board.
A few days before the ship sailed, however, Dawson, this time dressed as a sailor, succeeded in enlisting on her in Pegram’s absence. For his service on the voyage home he was made master’s mate in the Confederate navy.
After serving at Norfolk and in the James River, wishing more action he resigned his commission in the navy and enlisted as a private in Purcell’s battery, Hill’s division, Army of Northern Virginia, in June 1862. He was promoted for valiant action at Mechanicsville, and after serving as ordnance officer with Longstreet’s Corps received his captaincy in April 1864, becoming ordnance officer of Fitzhugh Lee’s division.
He fought in a dozen battles, was three times wounded, and suffered imprisonment at Fort Delaware. After the surrender, he had only a three-cent postage stamp in the pocket of his uniform.
Going to Richmond in July 1865, he planned to start a small weekly newspaper with a friend. The plant was seized by the military forces before the first issue appeared, and, after brief service as a bookkeeper in Petersburg, Dawson worked on the Richmond Examiner and later the Richmond Dispatch until September of the next year.
He then became route agent for the National Express and Transportation Company, but this project soon failed. Through B. R. Riordan, whom he had known on the Examiner and who had gone to the Charleston Courier, Dawson was engaged for the Charleston Mercury, where he began work November 10, 1866. A year later, with Riordan and Henry Evans he purchased the Charleston News. Acquiring the much older Courier in April 1873, they combined the two papers as the News and Courier, of which Dawson became editor.
At a time when it was dangerous in South Carolina to counsel moderation and advocate compromise, he favored the placing of negroes on the Democratic ticket for municipal office in Charleston. When Chamberlain, the Radical governor whom he at first opposed, proved a good executive, he supported him against the popular idol, Wade Hampton. His most important service was in advocating economic measures for the rebuilding of the state and section after the war. In this work he was original, resourceful, successful. He is the first conspicuous figure in the post-bellum movement to “bring the cotton mills to the cotton fields. He urged agricultural diversification, particularly through the introduction of tobacco culture in South Carolina. He wanted Southern farmers to grow their own meat instead of depending so heavily upon the West. Immigration of European farmers and artisans and of workers from the North was constantly espoused by Dawson. He was largely responsible for the South Carolina statute against dueling, and for this service was made a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope Leo XIII in 1888.
Dawson was shot and killed by Dr. T. B. McDow in the latter’s office whither he had gone resentful of an affront to the Swiss governess of his children.
McDow was acquitted, many believed through corrupt means, but some years later died under circumstances pointing to suicide.
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Dawson was a devoted Catholic.
Dawson was quick of perception, sudden to anger and as sudden in forgiveness. He was thoroughly democratic and made loyal friends, but his imperiousness and persistence in his decisions made him bitter enemies. He was an accurate observer, had an unusual memory for scenes and conversations, and wrote with ease, interest, and vigor.
Dawson first married Virginia Fourgeaud of Charleston, daughter of a French family, in 1867. In January 1874 he married Sarah, daughter of Judge Thomas Gibbes Morgan of Louisiana, who with two children survived him.