South Carolina Hall Of Fame: Edward Rutledge

Born in Charleston, Rutledge was educated in England and returned to South Carolina in 1773 and became deeply involved with the American revolutionaries that included his brother John, and the Pinckneys. In 1774 he was elected to the Continental Congress and served for three years. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Rutledge returned to Charleston and served as a lieutenant colonel in the militia and was captured when Charleston fell in 1780. He was released after eleven months, and he returned to his law practice. In 1790 he served in the State Constitutional Convention and was elected to the legislature in 1791. He was elected governor in 1798, but died in 1800 halfway through his term.