Arthur Middleton
Arthur Middleton (b. June 26, 1742; d. January 1, 1787) is a founding father of America, he was a member of the Council of Safety (against its enemies) that virtually ruled the province until a provisional government was established. Also, a son of Henry Middleton- President of the First Continental Congress, elected to replace his father's seat as the South Carolina delegate to the Second Continental Congress and prisoner-of-war in the America Revolution.
Early Life
Henry Middleton's eldest was born at the family mansion, Middleton Place, near Charleston, South Carolina. At age 12, his father sent him to England for his education. After Arthur graduated from Cambridge in 1773, [1] he went on a tour of Europe. He returned to America and married Mary Izzard. Arthur became a justice of the peace and served as a delegate to the provincial assembly. Once again, he traveled Europe but now with his wife. He returned to the Middleton Place and acquired rice plantations.
American Revolution
In 1774, the colonies where positioning themselves for independence from Britain. Arthur and his father Henry chose liberty and sided with their fellow colonists. He took a firm and decided stand in opposition to British encroachment and oppression. [2] Arthur headed the Charleston Council of Safety in 1775 and in 1776, he filled the seat his father occupied in the Second Continental Congress. He continued a member of congress, residing with his family which he took with him, until the close of 1777.
In 1779, the British invaded the Southern colonies. Middleton stood in defensive of Charleston. The British took Charleston and Arthur Middleton was captured. He was taken prisoner by Sir Henry Clinton, and sent to St. Augustine as a prisoner. Arthur languished over a year before be traded in a prisoner swap. He returned to find all his possessions looted, his structures standing, but all his wealth was destroyed. He did reunite with his family after completing his term in Congress 1782. He declined his seat in Congress after the war preferring to spend retirement with his family.
Death
In the winter of 1786 Arthur contracted a fever and died on January 1st.
