South Carolina Hall Of Fame: John Rutledge

Revolutionary leader and statesman, John Rutledge was born in Charleston and educated in England. As a member of the Stamp Act Congress in 1765 he worked toward greater autonomy for the colonies rather than separation from England. In 1774 he attended the Continental Congress and realized that separation was inevitable. In 1776 he was elected President of South Carolina, the only person to ever have that title, and in 1778 was elected governor. In 1787 he attended the Constitution Convention as the leader of the South Carolina delegation, and signed the United States Constitution. In 1791 Rutledge became the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court.