ARTHUR

See also:

• MIDDLETON
• ARTHUR MIDDLETON (1742–1787)
• MIDDLETON, CONYERS (1683–1750)
• MIDDLETON, THOMAS (c. 1570-1627)

MIDDLETON (1742–1787)  , American politician and signer of the Declaration of Independence, was born at Middleton Place on the Ashley river, South Carolina, on the 26th of June 1742 . His family was one of the most prominent in the colony . The grandfather, Arthur Middleton (1681–1737), was president of the Council in 1721—1730 and as such was acting governor in 1725–1730, and the father, Henry Middleton (1717-1784), was speaker of the Assembly in 1745–1747 and again in 1754–1755, a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1774–1776, and its president from October 1774 to May 1775, a member of the South Carolina Committee of Safety, and in 1775 president of the South Carolina Provincial Congress . Like most wealthy South Carolinians of the 18th century, Arthur Middleton was educated in England—at Hackney, at Westminster School, and at St John's College, Cambridge . He then returned to South Carolina, but soon afterwards went back to England to live, and travelled on the Continent . In 1773 he again returned to South Carolina, and in the controversies between the colonists and the home government became a leader of the Whigs . He was a member of the provincial Council of Safety in 1775–1776, and a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776–1777 . In 1778 he was elected governor of South Carolina, but owing to his dissatisfaction with the new State constitution he declined to serve . He was captured by the British at Charleston in May 1780, was exchanged in July 1781, was again a delegate to Congress in1781–1783, and later served in the state legislature . He died on the 1st of January 1787 at Middleton Place, near Charleston . His eldest son, HENRY MIDDLETON (1770-I846), was an orator of ability, was governor of South Carolina in 1810-1812, a representative in Congress in 1815-1819, and the United States minister to Russia from 182o to 183o, negotiating in 1824 a convention " relative to navigation, fishing and trading in the Pacific Ocean, and to establishments on the North-West Coast." This was the first treaty between the United States and Russia .