Background
Henry Middleton was the son of Sarah (Amory) and Arthur Middleton, 1681-1737. It is probable that he was born at his father's plantation "The Oaks" near Charlestown, now Charleston, South Carolina, and that he was educated in England.
Henry Middleton was the son of Sarah (Amory) and Arthur Middleton, 1681-1737. It is probable that he was born at his father's plantation "The Oaks" near Charlestown, now Charleston, South Carolina, and that he was educated in England.
At his father's death, Middleton inherited "The Oaks" and a good deal of other property in South Carolina as well as in England and Barbados. Through his marriage to Mary Williams he added the estate afterward known as "Middleton Place, " where he made his home, laying out the beautifully proportioned grounds and gardens, which have been enjoyed and embellished by later generations and which remain a delight to the residents and visitors of Charleston. Like many other members of prominent Southern families of this period, he held many official positions, of which the most important were, perhaps, justice of the peace, member of the commons house, speaker in 1747 and again in 1754 and 1755, and member of His Majesty's council for South Carolina. In 1769, he was in accord with the rest of the council in opposition to the action of the Assembly in voting £1, 500 sterling to the John Wilkes fund. Nevertheless, although a churchman and a conservative with social and political position as well as a fortune at stake, he resigned his seat in the council in September 1770, to become a leader of the opposition to the British policy. In July 1774, a mass convention in Charlestown chose him to represent the province in the Continental Congress. When Peyton Randolph resigned he became the second president of the Congress and served from October 22, 1774, to May 10, 1775. He did not wish for independence but hoped that moderate resistance would hasten the arrival of British commissioners to make a reasonable peace. When the radicals began to obtain control, he resigned from Congress, in February 1776, and was succeeded by his son Arthur Middleton, who was more radical than he. After his resignation from the Continental Congress he became president of the South Carolina Congress and a member of the Council of Safety after November 16, 1775. On February 11, 1776, he and his son Arthur were appointed members of a committee to frame a temporary constitution for the state, following the adoption of which he was made a member of the legislative council, and in January 1779, he became a member of the newly created state Senate. After the surrender of Charlestown, he was among those who accepted defeat and "took protection" under the British flag. Although the triumph of the Revolutionists was followed by numerous confiscations of the estates of Loyalists, he did not suffer for his abandonment of the struggle, nor is there any evidence that his fellow citizens regarded him in any less favorable light. His public spirit is shown not only in the offices he held but in the deeds he performed. When, at the outset of the Revolution, there was a lack of money in the province he and four other wealthy citizens "issued joint and several notes of hand in convenient denominations payable to the bearer, and these readily went into circulation at face value".
Middleton was one of the greatest landowners in South Carolina, owning nearly twenty plantations with a total of 50, 000 acres and about 800 slaves. His wealth was so great that tradition credits him with having raised and supported at his own expense an entire regiment to fight in the Revolution. He was a generous benefactor of the church and was active in advancing the agricultural, commercial, and educational interests of the state. His contributions to the new colleges in New Jersey, Rhode Island, and at Philadelphia were large.
Quotations: “There is no liberty, if the power of judging be not separated from the legislative and executive powers. ”
In 1741, Middleton married Mary, the only daughter of John Williams, member of the House of Commons from St. George's. She died on January 9, 1761. In 1762, he married Maria Henrietta, daughter of Lieut. -Gov. William Bull, who died on March 1, 1772. In January 1776, he married Lady Mary Mackenzie, who was the daughter of George, third earl of Cromartie, and was the widow of John Ainslie. Of his five sons and seven daughters, all the children of his first wife, Arthur was the eldest and the heir, Thomas became a Revolutionary patriot and a generous public servant, Henrietta married Edward Rutledge, and Sarah married Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.
October 29, 1681 – September 17, 1737 Was a South Carolina planter and Acting Governor of South Carolina from May 7, 1725 to December, 1730.
1690 - 1722
16 February 1722 - 1 May 1772
1721 - 9 January 1761
15 November 1750 - 22 April 1792
5 July 1756 - 8 May 1784
January 1760 - 20 August 1834
15 September 1754 - 10 November 1789
26 June 1742 - 1 January 1787
26 July 1753 - 19 August 1797
