A REVOLUTION PATRIOT FROM SOUTH CAROLINA--

Edward Rutledge was Irish-American born in South Carolina in 1749 to a prominent Physician, John.
His mother married his father bringing a rich dowry to the family. She was twenty Seven when Dr. Rutledge died leaving her with seven children, Edward being the youngest.
After his early studies he joined his elder brother John, a distinguished member of the Charleston Bar, to study for the Bar.
Rutledge studied the politics of the day and became a firm believer in the cause for freedom.  He was elected a delegate to the first General Congress in 1774 and was active and fearless in his support of the cause of freedom.  He was re-elected in 1775 and again in 1776.  Rutledge joined William Henry Lee and John Adams in preparing the preamble and fearlessly voted for the Declaration ( a lot of people in South Carolina were against it).
Rutledge joined Dr. Franklin and John Adams to meet with Lord Howe on Staten Island to discuss a settlement but Howe would not accept that so the mission failed.
While actively engaged in the defence of his state Rutledge raised a corps of artillery and in 1780 while aiding General Lincoln in defense of Charleston he was captured and sent to St. Augustine in Florida where he was for most of a year.  When the British left Charleston in 1781 Mr. Rutledge went back to his business duties and the State legislature.  In 1794 he was elected to the United States Senate and in 1798 elected Governor of South Carolina.  But he did not get to serve out his term, dying in January of 1800 suffering from gout and a severe cold....Medicineman!