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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing) 2 0 Browse Search
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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Rhett, Robert Barnwell 1800-1876 (search)
Rhett, Robert Barnwell 1800-1876 Legislator; born in Beaufort, S. C., Dec. 24, 1800; was a son of James and Mariana Smith. and adopted the name of Rhett in 1837. Receiving a liberal education, he chose the law as a profession. In 1826 he was a member of the South Carolina legislature, and was attorney-general of the State in 1832, acting at that time with the most ultra wing of the nullification or State supremacy party. From 1838 to 1849 he was a member of Congress, and in 1850-51 United States Senator. It is said that he was the first man who advocated on the floor of Congress the dissolution of the Union. Rhett took a leading part in the secession movements in 1860-61, and was chairman of the committee in the convention at Montgomery by whom the constitution of The Confederate States of America was reported. He owned the Charleston Mercury, of which his son was the editor. He died in St. James parish, La., Sept. 14, 1876.