Background
Samuel Hammond was born on September 21, 1757, in Farnham’s Parish, Virginia, United States, the son of Charles and Elizabeth Hammond (Steele) Hammond. His parents were second cousins.
Samuel Hammond was born on September 21, 1757, in Farnham’s Parish, Virginia, United States, the son of Charles and Elizabeth Hammond (Steele) Hammond. His parents were second cousins.
Samuel attended the common schools.
Samuel Hammond was still a youth when the struggle for American independence began, and immediately threw himself into the fray. Having had some military experience in Dunmore’s War and Colonel Andrew Williamson's expedition against the Cherokees, he raised a company of minute-men and commanded it at the battle of Long Bridge, near Norfolk, in December 1776. In 1779 he joined General Lincoln’s army with the rank of captain and throughout the war served in the Southern colonies. He took part in the unsuccessful siege of Savannah (1779); and was present at the fall of Charleston.
After that event Hammond gathered round him a small band of patriots, headed for North Carolina, and there was joined by a detachment from Pickens’ regiment. He participated in the important engagements in that area, Musgrove’s Mills, King’s Mountain, Blackstock, Cowpens; took part in the successful siege of Augusta; and was with General Nathanael Greene in the battle of Eutaw Springs. At the end of the war he had been promoted to lieutenant-colonel in the South Carolina forces.
When peace was restored Hammond settled at Savannah, Georgia, and engaged in mercantile pursuits which carried him to South America and France. In this way he acquired a knowledge of Spanish and French which was of much use to him later. He served several years in the legislature as the representative of Chatham County and was also appointed to the office of surveyor general. The year 1793 found him again in uniform commanding a battalion of Chatham County militia against the Creek Indians.
In 1802 Hammond was elected to the Eighth Congress. When Louisiana was purchased from France, and the territory divided, Jefferson appointed Hammond colonel commandant (military and civil commander) of the northern part, the District of Louisiana. He served in this capacity for two years, 1804-1806, and in 1811 was appointed judge of the court of common pleas. After the territorial government of Missouri was set up, he was appointed to the territorial council, and at its first meeting, July 5, 1813, was elected president. In 1820 he was a member of the Missouri constitutional convention. He was elected surveyor general of South Carolina in 1827 and secretary of state in 1831.
During his life Hammond also acquired a considerable amount of property in St. Louis which he apparently managed none too well. On the failure of certain local banks he became involved in a large debt to the United States government in connection with notes of the bank which had been accepted by the government in payment of public dues. He was arrested and prosecuted, but was released on bail, sold his property in St. Louis, and liquidated the debt. He retired from public life and died in 1842 at his home, "Varello Farm, " at Beech Island, South Carolina
Hammond was a Freemason and member of Solomon's Lodge No. 1.
Hammond himself was described as polished in manner, a brilliant conversationalist and of exceptionally attractive personality.
Hammond was married in 1783 to Rebecca (Elbert) Rae, sister of Samuel Elbert and widow of Colonel John Rae; she died in 1798, and on May 25, 1802, he married Eliza Amelia O’Keefe. There were children by both marriages. His second wife was said to be a woman of unusual charm.