William Henry Drayton (Sept. 1742-3 Sept. 1779) South Carolina revolutionary leader. On February 8, 1776, William Henry Drayton, president of the South Carolina provincial congress, became the first Carolinian to openly call for a break with the mother country, when he told his fellow congressmen that Britain’s “hand of tyranny” directed against America had forced them to quickly decide between either “independence or slavery.” This revolutionary rhetoric is ironic considering that Drayton began the American rebellion as a member of His Majesty’s government in South Carolina. Indeed, Drayton is one of the most enigmatic figures of the American Revolution for his sudden conversion from an outspoken Crown supporter to an ardent patriot in
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Andrews parish in 1742 to John Drayton, a Lowcountry planter and member of the provincial council, and Charlotta Bull, daughter of Lieutenant Governor William Bull. Like the sons of many wealthy South Carolinians, young “Billy” was sent to England to complete his education. After ten years of schooling at Westminster and Oxford (Balliol College), Drayton returned to South Carolina where he soon married Dorothy Golightly, a young wealthy heiress. Their union produced four children, only two of whom reached adulthood. Well educated, financially secure, and politically well-connected, Drayton naturally sought political office. He won a seat in the South Carolina General Assembly in 1765, but lost it in the 1768 election for indifferent service. Drayton continued his notorious conduct in 1769 by publicly attacking the local extralegal nonimportation association for its use of strong-arm tactics to coerce individuals into their agreement. Drayton ignored the issue of the Townshend duties and instead attacked the association for violating the British constitution by restricting an individual’s inherent, natural, and constitutional right to think and act for himself. He also vilified the artisans of Charleston, who wielded substantial power in the nonimportation movement, as unqualified to participate in the “difficulties of government.” Drayton’s unpopular stand made him a pariah in South Carolina but won him approval from the …show more content…
Upon the creation of a new state government in April1776, Drayton was appointed its chief justice. From the Charleston bench he continued to champion American independence by delivering rousingly revolutionary charges that castigated King George III as a tyrant responsible for a “catalogue of oppressions” against Americans that broke the “original contract” between the king and people. Drayton added that reconciliation with the mother country was also impossible because “the Almighty created America to be independent of
Andrews parish in 1742 to John Drayton, a Lowcountry planter and member of the provincial council, and Charlotta Bull, daughter of Lieutenant Governor William Bull. Like the sons of many wealthy South Carolinians, young “Billy” was sent to England to complete his education. After ten years of schooling at Westminster and Oxford (Balliol College), Drayton returned to South Carolina where he soon married Dorothy Golightly, a young wealthy heiress. Their union produced four children, only two of whom reached adulthood. Well educated, financially secure, and politically well-connected, Drayton naturally sought political office. He won a seat in the South Carolina General Assembly in 1765, but lost it in the 1768 election for indifferent service. Drayton continued his notorious conduct in 1769 by publicly attacking the local extralegal nonimportation association for its use of strong-arm tactics to coerce individuals into their agreement. Drayton ignored the issue of the Townshend duties and instead attacked the association for violating the British constitution by restricting an individual’s inherent, natural, and constitutional right to think and act for himself. He also vilified the artisans of Charleston, who wielded substantial power in the nonimportation movement, as unqualified to participate in the “difficulties of government.” Drayton’s unpopular stand made him a pariah in South Carolina but won him approval from the …show more content…
Upon the creation of a new state government in April1776, Drayton was appointed its chief justice. From the Charleston bench he continued to champion American independence by delivering rousingly revolutionary charges that castigated King George III as a tyrant responsible for a “catalogue of oppressions” against Americans that broke the “original contract” between the king and people. Drayton added that reconciliation with the mother country was also impossible because “the Almighty created America to be independent of