Changes

|nominator=[[George Washington]]

|nominator=[[George Washington]]

|terms=September 26, 1789 – March 5, 1791

|terms=September 26, 1789 – March 5, 1791

|preceded=[[John Rutledge]]

|preceded=John Rutledge

|former=y

|former=y

|succeeded=[[Thomas Johnson]]

|succeeded=[[Thomas Johnson]]

'''John Rutledge''' (September 17, 1739 - July 18, 1800) was an [[United States of America|American]] statesman and judge. He was the first [[Governor of South Carolina]] following the signing of the [[Declaration of Independence]]. For a time, he held dictatorial powers in that state. He was a delegate to the [[Constitutional Convention]], and he signed the [[United States Constitution]]. He served as an Associate Justice on the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]], and was the second [[Chief Justice of the United States|Chief Justice]] of the Court from August to December 1795.  He was the elder brother of [[Edward Rutledge]], a signatory of the [[Declaration of Independence]].  

'''John Rutledge''' (September 17, 1739 - July 18, 1800) was an [[United States of America|American]] statesman and judge. He was the first [[Governor of South Carolina]] following the signing of the [[Declaration of Independence]]. For a time, he held dictatorial powers in that state. He was a delegate to the [[Constitutional Convention]], and he signed the [[United States Constitution]]. He served as an Associate Justice on the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]], and was the second [[Chief Justice of the United States|Chief Justice]] of the Court from August to December 1795.  He was the elder brother of [[Edward Rutledge]], a signatory of the [[Declaration of Independence]].  

==Early Life==

==Early life==

"In the friendly competitions of the states for the comparative merits of their respective statesmen and orators," says [[David Ramsay|Dr. Ramsay]], "while Massachusetts boasts of her John Adams - Connecticut of her Ellsworth - New York of her Jay - Pennsylvania of her Wilson - Delaware of her Bayard - Virginia of her Henry - South Carolina rests her claims on the talents and eloquence of John Rutledge."<ref>[https://archive.org/details/ramsayshistorys00ramsgoog Ramsay's history of South Carolina, from its first settlement in 1670 to the year 1808], by David Ramsay</ref>

"In the friendly competitions of the states for the comparative merits of their respective statesmen and orators," says [[David Ramsay|Dr. Ramsay]], "while Massachusetts boasts of her John Adams - Connecticut of her Ellsworth - New York of her Jay - Pennsylvania of her Wilson - Delaware of her Bayard - Virginia of her Henry - South Carolina rests her claims on the talents and eloquence of John Rutledge."<ref>[https://archive.org/details/ramsayshistorys00ramsgoog Ramsay's history of South Carolina, from its first settlement in 1670 to the year 1808], by David Ramsay</ref>

This controversy was scarcely ended when the memorable [[Stamp Act]] was passed. The British Colonies were then detached from each other, and had never acted in concert. A proposition was made by the assembly of Massachusetts to the different provincial assemblies for appointing committees from each to meet in congress as a rallying point of union. To this novel project many objections were made; some doubted its legality, others its expedience, and most its efficiency. To remove objections, to conciliate opposition, and to gain the hearty concurrence of the assembly and the people, was no easy matter. In accomplishing these objects, the abilities of John Rutledge were successfully exerted. Objections vanished—prejudices gave way before his eloquence. The public mind was illuminated, and a more correct mode of thinking took place. A vote for appointing deputies to a Continental congress was carried in South Carolina at an early day, and before it had been agreed to by the neighboring states. Christopher Gadsden, Thomas Lynch, and John Rutledge, were appointed.

This controversy was scarcely ended when the memorable [[Stamp Act]] was passed. The British Colonies were then detached from each other, and had never acted in concert. A proposition was made by the assembly of Massachusetts to the different provincial assemblies for appointing committees from each to meet in congress as a rallying point of union. To this novel project many objections were made; some doubted its legality, others its expedience, and most its efficiency. To remove objections, to conciliate opposition, and to gain the hearty concurrence of the assembly and the people, was no easy matter. In accomplishing these objects, the abilities of John Rutledge were successfully exerted. Objections vanished—prejudices gave way before his eloquence. The public mind was illuminated, and a more correct mode of thinking took place. A vote for appointing deputies to a Continental congress was carried in South Carolina at an early day, and before it had been agreed to by the neighboring states. Christopher Gadsden, Thomas Lynch, and John Rutledge, were appointed.

==Political Career==

==Political career==

Rutledge was the youngest of the three, and had very lately began to tread the threshold of manhood. When the first congress met in New York in 1765, the members of the distant provinces were surprised at the eloquence of the young member from Carolina. In the means of education that province was far behind those to the northward. Of it little more was known or believed than that it produced rice and indigo, and contained a large proportion of slaves and a handful of free men, and that most of the latter were strangers to vigorous health, all self-indulgent, and none accustomed to active exertions either of mind or body. From such a province nothing great was expected. A respectable committee of its assembly, and the distinguished abilities of one of them who was among the youngest members of the congress, produced at this first general meeting of the Colonies more favorable ideas of South Carolina than had hitherto prevailed.

Rutledge was the youngest of the three, and had very lately began to tread the threshold of manhood. When the first congress met in New York in 1765, the members of the distant provinces were surprised at the eloquence of the young member from Carolina. In the means of education that province was far behind those to the northward. Of it little more was known or believed than that it produced rice and indigo, and contained a large proportion of slaves and a handful of free men, and that most of the latter were strangers to vigorous health, all self-indulgent, and none accustomed to active exertions either of mind or body. From such a province nothing great was expected. A respectable committee of its assembly, and the distinguished abilities of one of them who was among the youngest members of the congress, produced at this first general meeting of the Colonies more favorable ideas of South Carolina than had hitherto prevailed.

As soon as it was in operation, he was designated by President Washington as an associate justice of the Supreme court of the United States. In this office he served till 1791, when he was elected chief justice of South Carolina. He was afterwards appointed chief justice of the United States. Thus for more than thirty years, with few and short intervals, he served his country in one or other of the departments of government; and in all with fidelity and ability. This illustrious man closed his variegated career in the year 1800.

As soon as it was in operation, he was designated by President Washington as an associate justice of the Supreme court of the United States. In this office he served till 1791, when he was elected chief justice of South Carolina. He was afterwards appointed chief justice of the United States. Thus for more than thirty years, with few and short intervals, he served his country in one or other of the departments of government; and in all with fidelity and ability. This illustrious man closed his variegated career in the year 1800.

==See Also==

==See also==

* [[David Ramsay]]

* [[David Ramsay]]

* [[Constitutional Convention]]

* [[Constitutional Convention]]

<references/>

<references/>

==External Links==

==External links==

* [https://books.google.com/books?id=mRVlO5zy6soC&pg=PA431 The Life of John Rutledge]

* [https://books.google.com/books?id=mRVlO5zy6soC&pg=PA431 The Life of John Rutledge]

* [https://books.google.com/books?id=ihNKAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA152 John Rutledge]

* [https://books.google.com/books?id=ihNKAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA152 John Rutledge]

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[[Category:Judges]]

[[Category:Judges]]

[[Category:Founding Fathers]]

[[Category:Founding Fathers]]