Jurist; born in
Charleston, S. C., in 1739; studied law in
London; returned to
Charleston in 1761; and soon afterwards rose to eminence in his profession.
In 1765 he was a member of the Stamp Act Congress that met in New York City; in 1774 of the South Carolina convention of patriots; and of
[
509]
the first Continental Congress, at
Philadelphia, the same year.
He was also in Congress in 1775, and was chairman of
the convention that framed the
State constitution of
South Carolina in 1776.
By his vigilance and activity he saved
Fort Moultrie from the effects of an order by
General Lee to evacuate it when attacked by the
British; and he was elected president of the
State under the new constitution.
In 1779 he was chosen governor, and the legislature made him a temporary dictator when
Charleston was threatened with siege.
In the fall of
Charleston (May, 1780),
Rutledge went to
North Carolina, and accompanied the
Southern army until 1782, when he was elected to Congress.
He was chosen chancellor of
South Carolina in 1784; was a member of the convention that framed the national Constitution (1787); appointed an associate-justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States (1789); elected chief-justice of
South Carolina in 1791; and in 1795 was appointed chief-justice of the
United States, but the Senate did not confirm him. He died in
Charleston, S. C., July 23, 1800.
