Edward Rutledge - Trivia

US governor, born in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, the brother of John Rutledge. A South Carolina lawyer, he served in the First and Second Continental Congresses (1774–6), where he shifted from his Loyalist sympathies to sign the Declaration of Independence. He went back to South Carolina to fight against the British, and was briefly their prisoner after the fall of Charleston. A staunch Federalist, he served in the state legislature (1782–98), where he moderated confiscation of Loyalists' property, later becoming governor (1798–1880).

Edward Rutledge (November 23, 1749–January 23, 1800), South Carolina statesman, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and later governor of South Carolina.

Like his elder brother John Rutledge, Edward was born in Charleston.

Along with John, he represented South Carolina in the Continental Congress, where he was noted for his opposition to independence.

He was sent back to Congress in 1779 to fill a vacancy, returning again in the following year to help defend against the British invasion, but was captured in the fall of Charleston, and held prisoner until July 1781.

From 1782 to 1796 he served in the state assembly, known as an active member and an advocate for the prosecution of Loyalists.

Rutledge caused commotion when the original draft of the Declaration, stated and supported by Thomas Jefferson, contained wording banning slavery, and led southern states to not vote for it unless said wording were removed.

Trivia

Actress Goldie Hawn is one of his descendants.