Henry Middleton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Henry Middleton
Possible portrait by Benjamin West, circa 1771
2nd President of the Continental Congress
In office October 22, 1774 – October 26, 1774
Preceded by	Peyton Randolph
Succeeded by	Peyton Randolph
Personal details
Born	1717 near Charles Town, Province of South Carolina
Died	June 13, 1784 (aged 66–67) Charleston, South Carolina
Spouses	Mary Baker Williams ​ ​ (m. 1741; her death 1761)​ Mary Henrietta Bull ​ ​ (m. 1762; her death 1772)​ Lady Mary McKenzie ​ (m. 1776)​
Relations	Henry Middleton (grandson)
Children	12, including Arthur
Parents	Susan Amory Middleton Arthur Middleton
Residence	Middleton Place
Occupation	Planter, public official

Henry Middleton (1717 – June 13, 1784) was an important public official and a large landowner from South Carolina. He played a role in the early days of the American Revolution. He was a member of the colonial government and later attended the First Continental Congress. For a few days in 1774, he even served as the president of this important group. He signed the Continental Association, which was an agreement among the colonies.

Middleton left the Second Continental Congress before the colonies decided to declare independence from Great Britain. When he returned to South Carolina, he became president of the local congress and a senator in the new state government. Later, when the British captured Charleston, he accepted their rule. However, his earlier support for the Revolution meant his reputation was not harmed in the long run.

Early Life and Family History

Henry Middleton was born in 1717 at "The Oaks," his family's large plantation near Charleston, in what was then the Province of South Carolina. His father, Arthur Middleton, was a wealthy planter who had even served as a temporary governor of South Carolina. Henry's grandfather, Edward Middleton, had moved to America from England.

Henry went to school in England. After his education, he came back to South Carolina to take over his father's plantation. He became one of the biggest landowners in the colony. He owned about 50,000 acres (200 square kilometers) of land and around 800 enslaved people.

Public Service and the Revolution

Henry Middleton held many important jobs in South Carolina's government. He was a justice of the peace, which is like a local judge. He was also a member of the Commons House of Assembly, where he was chosen as speaker several times. He joined the provincial council but left in 1770 because he disagreed with British policies.

In 1774, as the American Revolution was beginning, Middleton was chosen to be a delegate to the Continental Congress. He became the president of the First Continental Congress for a few days. This happened after Peyton Randolph left.

Middleton did not want the colonies to declare independence from Great Britain. Because of this, he resigned from the Second Continental Congress in February 1776. This was when more delegates started pushing for independence. His son, Arthur, took his place in Congress. Arthur was more radical than his father and became a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

After returning to South Carolina, Henry Middleton was elected president of the local congress. He also served on the council of safety starting in November 1775. In 1776, he and his son Arthur helped create a temporary state constitution. By 1779, he was a state senator in the new government.

When the British captured Charleston during the Siege of Charleston in 1780, Middleton accepted their victory. He returned to being a British subject. However, his earlier support for the Revolution meant his land was not taken away, unlike many Loyalists after the war.

Family Life

In 1741, Henry Middleton married Mary Baker Williams (1721–1761). She was the daughter of John Williams, who started building what is now known as Middleton Place around 1730. Henry and Mary had five sons and seven daughters. Seven of their children lived to be adults, including:

• Arthur Middleton (1742–1787), who signed the Declaration of Independence.
• Henrietta Middleton (1750–1792), who married Governor Edward Rutledge.
• Sarah Middleton (1756–1784), who married Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.

After Mary's death in 1761, Henry Middleton married two more times. His second marriage was to Maria Henrietta Bull (1722–1772) in 1762. She was the daughter of William Bull Sr., who was a lieutenant governor of South Carolina.

After his second wife died in 1772, he married for a third time in 1776 to Lady Mary McKenzie.

Henry Middleton passed away on June 13, 1784, in Charleston. He was buried at Goosecreek Churchyard in Berkeley County, South Carolina.

Notable Descendants

Henry Middleton's grandson, also named Henry (1770–1846), had a long career in politics. He served as governor of South Carolina from 1810 to 1812. He was also a U.S. Representative from 1815 to 1819, and later the minister (ambassador) to Russia from 1820 to 1830.

See also

In Spanish: Henry Middleton para niños