Known for

• 39th Governor of South Carolina (1798-1800)​

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During 1776

• Delegate for South Carolina

• Age: 26

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Background

• Born: 1749 in Charleston, South Carolina

• Education: Inns of Court in London

• Spouse: Henrietta Middleton (m. 1774)

• ​Children: 3

• Slaveowning

  • He was a wealthy plantation and slave owner; owned at least 50 slaves. Unsurprisingly, he was very pro-slavery because he financially benefited from it

  • Worked to have African Americans expelled from the Continental Army, as he felt arming Black people might threaten South Carolina

  • While part of the South Carolina House of Representatives later in his career, Rutledge opposed the opening of the African slave trade

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Personal beliefs

• Politics: Moderate Whig​

  • Rutledge was a supporter of colonial rights, but wasn't sure of the timing for pushing for independence

    • ​Rutledge firmly believed that the colonies should first confederate and nurture foreign alliances to strengthen themselves, before seeking independence

  • When the Lee Resolution was first proposed, Rutledge led the moderates to delay the vote: he knew independence was inevitable, but had questions about the strategy Congress was taking

  • After the July 1 vote, Rutledge realized that the resolution would probably carry anyway, and proposed that the vote be recast the following day

    • ​As Jefferson recounted it, "Mr. Rutledge of South Carolina then requested the determination might be put off to the next day, as he believed his colleagues, though they disapproved of the resolution, would then join in it for the sake of unanimity."

  • Indeed, on July 2, the South Carolina delegation voted Yes

• Religion: Episcopalian​