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Sumter was considered a spokesman for his state and for the South in general, not only because of his wartime heroism but also from his devotion to state sovereignty and decentralized government. He was a prominent [[Anti-Federalist]] and later [[Democratic-Republican|Jeffersonian Republican]], and toward the end of his life backed South Carolina's doctrine of [[nullification]]. [[Fort Sumter]] in South Carolina was named in his honor.

Sumter was considered a spokesman for his state and for the South in general, not only because of his wartime heroism but also from his devotion to state sovereignty and decentralized government. He was a prominent [[Anti-Federalist]] and later [[Democratic-Republican|Jeffersonian Republican]], and toward the end of his life backed South Carolina's doctrine of [[nullification]]. [[Fort Sumter]] in South Carolina was named in his honor.

==Early Life==

==Early life==

Thomas Sumter was born near [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]], [[Virginia]] on August 14, 1734, the son of William Sumter, a Welsh immigrant and local miller, and Patience Sumter, whose background is unknown. Not much information is available concerning Sumter's childhood and adolescence; he spent some time in the Virginia backcountry as a sheep herder and a worker in his father's mill, before joining the militia around the time of the outbreak of the [[French and Indian War]]. He may have served in Braddock's expedition to Fort Duquesne in 1755, and was later part of Forbes' campaign of 1758.  

Thomas Sumter was born near [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]], [[Virginia]] on August 14, 1734, the son of William Sumter, a Welsh immigrant and local miller, and Patience Sumter, whose background is unknown. Not much information is available concerning Sumter's childhood and adolescence; he spent some time in the Virginia backcountry as a sheep herder and a worker in his father's mill, before joining the militia around the time of the outbreak of the [[French and Indian War]]. He may have served in Braddock's expedition to Fort Duquesne in 1755, and was later part of Forbes' campaign of 1758.  

Given that he could claim the Crown as a benefactor, it is not clear how or when Sumter drifted into the [[Patriot]] camp. He may have been involved in or sympathetic to the [[Regulator]] movement of the late 1760s and early 1770s that demanded greater representation for the backcountry districts in the colonial assemblies of the Carolinas. If this was the case, the principle of political representation may have led Sumter to support the broader cause of resistance to [[Parliament]] and the monarchy; however, this is only speculation.

Given that he could claim the Crown as a benefactor, it is not clear how or when Sumter drifted into the [[Patriot]] camp. He may have been involved in or sympathetic to the [[Regulator]] movement of the late 1760s and early 1770s that demanded greater representation for the backcountry districts in the colonial assemblies of the Carolinas. If this was the case, the principle of political representation may have led Sumter to support the broader cause of resistance to [[Parliament]] and the monarchy; however, this is only speculation.

Sumter was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1773 for the Camden District, and won the esteem of his neighbors enough to be elected as representative for the District Eastward of Wateree River to the First Provincial Congress of South Carolina, which met in [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]] on January 11, 1775. He was subsequently re-elected to the Second Provincial Congress later that year, and from 1776 to 1780, served in the First, Second, and Third General Assemblies after [[Declaration of Independence|independence was declared]]. Simultaneously, Sumter entered the South Carolina militia, being elected a captain in 1775 and serving that winter in the campaign against [[Loyalists]] organizing in the backcountry. In February 1776, he was made lieutenant colonel of the Second Regiment of the South Carolina Line, serving in the [[Battle of Fort Moultrie]] (June 1776), the campaign against Cherokees on the frontier (July-October 1776), and in several campaigns to protect [[Georgia]] (1777-78). In September 1778, Sumter, by now a brigadier general, resigned his commission, frustrated by the inconclusive and sporadic nature of the fighting and desiring to redress his financial affairs, left in disarray by his absence from home.

Sumter was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1773 for the Camden District, and won the esteem of his neighbors enough to be elected as representative for the District Eastward of Wateree River to the First Provincial Congress of South Carolina, which met in [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]] on January 11, 1775. He was subsequently re-elected to the Second Provincial Congress later that year, and from 1776 to 1780, served in the First, Second, and Third General Assemblies after [[Declaration of Independence|independence was declared]]. Simultaneously, Sumter entered the South Carolina militia, being elected a captain in 1775 and serving that winter in the campaign against [[Loyalists]] organizing in the backcountry. In February 1776, he was made lieutenant colonel of the Second Regiment of the South Carolina Line, serving in the [[Battle of Fort Moultrie]] (June 1776), the campaign against Cherokees on the frontier (July–October 1776), and in several campaigns to protect [[Georgia]] (1777–78). In September 1778, Sumter, by now a brigadier general, resigned his commission, frustrated by the inconclusive and sporadic nature of the fighting and desiring to redress his financial affairs, left in disarray by his absence from home.

'''"The Gamecock"'''

'''"The Gamecock"'''

As was the case with much of the Patriot campaigning in the southern theater, Sumter lost battles as often as he won. Through 1781 especially, he was generally defeated in combat. He also had a difficult relationship with other American commanders, especially in the [[Continental Army]], as he preferred to operate independently rather than coordinate with them; prior to the [[Battle of Camden]], for example, he chose to raid Cornwallis' supply lines rather than unite his forces with the main body. However, his fierce fighting and his resilience earned him respect from both sides. Cornwallis himself referred to Sumter as his "greatest plague," and Tarleton gave him his lasting nickname when, after Blackstock's Farm, he said that Sumter "fought like a gamecock." Because of this, Sumter came to be known as the Carolina Gamecock, or simply, "the Gamecock."<ref>''The Road to Guilford Courthouse'', John Buchanan, p. 393.</ref>

As was the case with much of the Patriot campaigning in the southern theater, Sumter lost battles as often as he won. Through 1781 especially, he was generally defeated in combat. He also had a difficult relationship with other American commanders, especially in the [[Continental Army]], as he preferred to operate independently rather than coordinate with them; prior to the [[Battle of Camden]], for example, he chose to raid Cornwallis' supply lines rather than unite his forces with the main body. However, his fierce fighting and his resilience earned him respect from both sides. Cornwallis himself referred to Sumter as his "greatest plague," and Tarleton gave him his lasting nickname when, after Blackstock's Farm, he said that Sumter "fought like a gamecock." Because of this, Sumter came to be known as the Carolina Gamecock, or simply, "the Gamecock."<ref>''The Road to Guilford Courthouse'', John Buchanan, p. 393.</ref>

==Political Career==

==Political career==

Sumter resigned from the state militia in February 1782. With American government authority restored to most of South Carolina, he again represented the district Eastward of Wateree River in the Jacksonboro Assembly of 1782, as well as in subsequent General Assemblies until 1790. After the end of the war, he founded the town of Stateburg on land that he owned and unsuccessfully advocated for it as the new state capital.  

Sumter resigned from the state militia in February 1782. With American government authority restored to most of South Carolina, he again represented the district Eastward of Wateree River in the Jacksonboro Assembly of 1782, as well as in subsequent General Assemblies until 1790. After the end of the war, he founded the town of Stateburg on land that he owned and unsuccessfully advocated for it as the new state capital.  

Sumter left the House in 1793, but was elected once again in 1797 as a [[Democratic-Republican]] and served until December 1801, during which time he voted against the [[Alien and Sedition Acts]]. In December 1801, the South Carolina legislature appointed him to the [[U.S. Senate]] following Senator Charles Pinckney's resignation. Sumter remained in the Senate until December 1810. As senator, he generally favored the policies of President [[Thomas Jefferson]], supporting the impeachment of Federalist judges and opposing [[internal improvements]], a protective [[tariff]], and calls for [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] to address the [[slavery]] issue. These positions established him as a leading voice for Southern interests and a representative figure of the [[Jeffersonian]] political philosophy in antebellum America. [[John Randolph of Roanoke]] once said of Sumter, "If I were allowed to vote by proxy, and on that vote depended the welfare of the Republic, I would make Thomas Sumter my proxy."

Sumter left the House in 1793, but was elected once again in 1797 as a [[Democratic-Republican]] and served until December 1801, during which time he voted against the [[Alien and Sedition Acts]]. In December 1801, the South Carolina legislature appointed him to the [[U.S. Senate]] following Senator Charles Pinckney's resignation. Sumter remained in the Senate until December 1810. As senator, he generally favored the policies of President [[Thomas Jefferson]], supporting the impeachment of Federalist judges and opposing [[internal improvements]], a protective [[tariff]], and calls for [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] to address the [[slavery]] issue. These positions established him as a leading voice for Southern interests and a representative figure of the [[Jeffersonian]] political philosophy in antebellum America. [[John Randolph of Roanoke]] once said of Sumter, "If I were allowed to vote by proxy, and on that vote depended the welfare of the Republic, I would make Thomas Sumter my proxy."

==Later Life==

==Later life==

Though well into his seventies when he left the Senate, Sumter remained active in private life and involved with the political issues of the day. He had challenged a younger Federalist to a duel in 1799, and at the age of 86 was sued for assault.  

Though well into his seventies when he left the Senate, Sumter remained active in private life and involved with the political issues of the day. He had challenged a younger Federalist to a duel in 1799, and at the age of 86 was sued for assault.  

The state government in [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]] erected a monument on the capitol grounds in 1913 in honor of Sumter and his fellow Revolutionary War partisan leaders, [[Francis Marion]] and [[Andrew Pickens]].

The state government in [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]] erected a monument on the capitol grounds in 1913 in honor of Sumter and his fellow Revolutionary War partisan leaders, [[Francis Marion]] and [[Andrew Pickens]].

==References==  

==References==

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