Daniel Henry Chamberlain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Daniel Henry Chamberlain
76th Governor of South Carolina
In office December 1, 1874 – December 14, 1876
Lieutenant	Richard Howell Gleaves
Preceded by	Franklin J. Moses, Jr.
Succeeded by	Wade Hampton III
In office December 14, 1876 – April 11, 1877 Disputed with Wade Hampton III
Attorney General of South Carolina
In office July 6, 1868 – December 7, 1872
Governor	Robert K. Scott
Preceded by	I. W. Hayne
Succeeded by	Samuel W. Melton
Personal details
Born	(1835-06-23)June 23, 1835 West Brookfield, Massachusetts, US
Died	April 13, 1907(1907-04-13) (aged 71) Charlottesville, Virginia
Resting place	Pine Grove Cemetery in West Brookfield, Massachusetts
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	Yale University Harvard Law School
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1863–1865
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Unit	5th Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Daniel Henry Chamberlain (June 23, 1835 – April 13, 1907) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as the 76th Governor of South Carolina from 1874 to 1877. His time as governor ended when the United States government removed its troops from South Carolina. This action also marked the end of the Reconstruction period in the state. Chamberlain was the last Republican governor of South Carolina for many years.

Early Life and Education

Daniel Henry Chamberlain was born on June 23, 1835, in West Brookfield, Massachusetts. He was one of ten children in his family. In 1862, he graduated with high honors from Yale University.

After college, he attended Harvard Law School. However, he left in 1863 to join the United States Army. He became a second lieutenant in the 5th Massachusetts Colored Volunteer Cavalry. This was a special army unit made up of African-American soldiers. After his military service, Chamberlain moved to South Carolina in 1866.

Political Career in South Carolina

Chamberlain began his political career as a delegate. He attended the 1868 South Carolina Constitutional Convention for Berkeley County. From 1868 to 1872, he served as the state attorney general. This was under Governor Robert K. Scott.

After his term as attorney general, Chamberlain worked as a lawyer in Charleston. In 1873, he was chosen to be on the board of trustees for the University of South Carolina. This was a time when the first African-American students were admitted to the university.

Becoming Governor

On November 3, 1874, Daniel Chamberlain was elected as the Republican governor. He won against his opponent, John T. Green. Chamberlain received 80,403 votes, which was 53.9% of the total.

When he became governor, Chamberlain promised to bring reforms. He wanted to fix problems in the state government. He was especially focused on reducing government spending and high taxes. His predecessor, Franklin J. Moses, Jr., had faced criticism. A book called The Prostrate State also highlighted issues in South Carolina politics.

Governor Chamberlain's Reforms

Governor Chamberlain worked to keep his promises. He continued to support civil rights for all citizens. At the same time, he fought against high government costs. He tried to cut the salaries of public officers by one-third. He also used his veto power to stop tax rates he thought were too high.

Chamberlain suggested cutting spending for state institutions. For example, he wanted to reduce costs for the state's mental health facility. He also supported bringing back the convict-lease system. This system allowed prisoners to be leased out for labor. He also proposed less money for the agricultural college and ending state scholarships. For the state university, he suggested replacing professors with school teachers. He believed the state only needed "a good high school."

His efforts to control spending and appointments sometimes caused disagreements. He faced challenges from some African-American Republican leaders in the legislature. These struggles made him well-known across the country.

The 1876 Election and Its Aftermath

Chamberlain hoped for support from both Republicans and Democrats for his re-election. However, the Democratic Party in South Carolina chose a platform focused on white-supremacy. This led to violence and threats against African-American Republican voters. The 1876 election campaign was very difficult. Mob violence and armed groups broke up Republican meetings.

Chamberlain told President Ulysses S. Grant about the violence. In October 1876, President Grant sent troops under General William T. Sherman to stop the mob actions. On election night, the results were unclear. Votes from Laurens and Edgefield counties were disputed. These counties reported more votes than their total population. These votes largely favored Chamberlain's opponent, Wade Hampton III, an ex-Confederate general.

For several months, both Chamberlain and Hampton claimed to be the rightful governor. However, Chamberlain's government struggled to raise money or military support. In April 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes withdrew Federal troops from South Carolina. This action ended the federal government's involvement in the state since the Civil War. Chamberlain left South Carolina feeling disappointed. He believed the President had let down the state's voters, many of whom were African American.

Later Life and Legacy

After leaving South Carolina, Daniel Chamberlain moved to New York City. He became a successful lawyer on Wall Street. From 1883 to 1897, he taught constitutional law at Cornell University. He also wrote a book in 1902 called Charles Sumner and the Treaty of Washington, along with many articles.

When he retired, he traveled a lot in Europe. He later moved to Charlottesville, Virginia. He passed away from cancer on April 13, 1907. He is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in West Brookfield, Massachusetts.

Daniel Chamberlain was the last Republican to hold a high office in South Carolina for a long time. It wasn't until 1964 that another Republican, Strom Thurmond, became a U.S. Senator after switching parties.