FRANCIS

See also:

• WILKINSON, JAMES (1757–1825)
• WILKINSON, JAMES JOHN GARTH (1812-1899)
• WILKINSON, JOHN (1728-1808)
• WILKINSON, SIR JOHN GARDNER (1797—1875)
• WILKINSON, TATE (1739—1803)

WILKINSON

See also:

• PICKENS, ANDREW (1739- 1817)
• FRANCIS WILKINSON PICKENS (1805-1869)

PICKENS (1805-1869)  , American politician, was born in Togadoo, St Paul's parish, South Carolina, on the 7th of April 18o5, son of Andrew Pickens (1779-1838) and grandson of General Andrew Pickens (1739-1817) . He was educated at Franklin College, Athens, Georgia, and at South Carolina College, Columbia, and was admitted to the bar in 1829 . In 1832 he was elected to the state House of Representatives, where, as chairman of a sub-committee, he submitted a report denying the right of Congress to exercise any control over the states . He was a Democratic member of the National House of Representatives in 1834-1843, served in the South Carolina Senate in 1844-1845, was a delegate to the Nashville Southern Convention (see NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE) in 1850, was United States minister to Russia in 1858-186o, and in 186o-1862 was governor of South Carolina . He strongly advocated the secession of the Southern states; signed the South Carolina ordinance of secession; protested against Major Robert Anderson's removal from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter; sanctioned the firing upon the " Star of the West " (Jan . 9, 1861), which was bringing supplies to Anderson, and the bombardment of Fort Sumter; and was a zealous supporter of the Confederate cause . At the close of his term he retired to his home at Edgefield, South Carolina, where he died on the 25th of January 1869 .