Kinloch, Francis, 1755-1826

Francis Kinloch (March 7, 1755 – February 8, 1826) was an American lawyer and rice planter from Georgetown, South Carolina. He served as a delegate for South Carolina to the Continental Congress in 1780.

Born in Charleston in the Province of South Carolina, he was first educated by private tutors there before being sent to England to study, graduating from Eton College and studying at Lincoln's Inn in London, England before being admitted to the bar and practicing in London. Kinloch went on to study in Paris and Geneva before returning to the United States, receiving a captain's commission in the South Carolina militia. He was on Gen. Isaac Huger's staff at the attack on Savannah in 1779, and received a bullet wound. He then served on Gen. William Moultrie's staff until 1780, when he was sent to the Continental congress in Philadelphia for one year. While trying to escape from his house during "Simcoe's raid," he was captured, but released on parole and returned home.

After the war he was engaged, with his brother Cleland, in settling their desolated estates near Georgetown. For many years he served in the South Carolina House of Representatives, and was a justice of the peace and of the quorum. He was a delegate to the convention of 1787, and voted there in favor of ratifying the constitution of the United States. He was a member of the legislative council in 1789, and in 1790 one of the convention that formed the constitution for South Carolina. In 1803 he went with his family to the south of France and Geneva, but about 1806 he returned to Charleston. Kinloch died in Charleston and was interred in Saint Michaels Church Cemetery there.