Barnwell, Robert, 1761-1814

Robert Gibbes Barnwell (December 21, 1761 – October 24, 1814) was a South Carolina slave owner, revolutionary and statesman who was a delegate to the Confederation Congress and a United States Congressman.

Born in Beaufort in the Province of South Carolina, his education was by a private tutor after he had exhausted the resources of the Beaufort common school. He interrupted his education to enter the South Carolina Militia as a private. After nearly losing his life at the Battle of Mathews' Plantation and recuperating, Barnwell eturned to duty, rejoining the militia the next spring as a lieutenant. He was just in time to be included with the prisoners when General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered Charleston on May 12, 1780. He was imprisoned on the transport ship Pack Horse until his exchange in June 1781. He returned to militia service, and by the end of the war had risen to lieutenant colonel.

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