Beresford, Richard, c. 1755-1803

<p>Richard Beresford (June 3, 1755 – February 6, 1803) was an American planter and lawyer from Berkeley County, South Carolina. He was a delegate for South Carolina in the Confederation Congress in 1783 and 1784.</p>

<p>Beresford was born near Charleston, South Carolina and was baptized June 3, 1755. He was educated in South Carolina and in England, studying law at the Middle Temple in London. He became a lawyer in private practice and also engaged in planting, with extensive estates in Berkeley County and Colleton County in South Carolina as well as in England.</p>

<p>He took an active part in the American Revolutionary War, serving as an officer in the 1st South Carolina Regiment under General Isaac Huger in the Georgia campaign in 1778. He was captured at the fall of Charleston in 1780 and imprisoned at St. Augustine until 1781, when he was exchanged. He was member of the South Carolina state house of representatives, 1781 and was elected by the South Carolina state general assembly as a member of the privy council in 1782. He was elected the ninth Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina in January 1783, but resigned shortly afterward, having been elected to the Continental Congress. He was a member of the Confederation Congress in 1783 and 1784, after which he resumed planting. He later engaged in literary pursuits and published the <i>Vigil in Charleston</i> in 1798. He died in Charleston.</p>

BERESFORD, Richard, a Delegate from South Carolina; birthdate unknown; born near Charleston, St. Thomas and St. Denis Parish, Berkeley County, S.C. (baptized June 3, 1755); educated in South Carolina and in England; studied law at the Middle Temple in London; lawyer, private practice; engaged in planting, with extensive estates in Berkeley and Colleton Counties, S.C., and in England; took an active part in the Revolution, serving under General Huger in the Georgia campaign in 1778, captured at the fall of Charleston in 1780 and imprisoned at St. Augustine until 1781, when he was exchanged; member of the South Carolina state house of representatives, 1781; elected by the South Carolina state general assembly a member of the privy council in 1782; elected Lieutenant Governor in January 1783, but resigned shortly afterward, having been elected to Congress; Member of the Continental Congress in 1783 and 1784; resumed planting; later engaged in literary pursuits; published the Vigil in Charleston in 1798; died in Charleston, S.C., February 6, 1803.

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>12/31/1783 SC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>02/04/1783 SC Lt. Governor Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1782 SC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
</ul>

<b>Richard Beresford</b><br>
<b>BIRTH</b> 3 Jun 1755<br>
Berkeley County, South Carolina, USA<br>
<b>DEATH</b> 6 Feb 1803 (aged 47)<br>
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, USA<br>
<b>BURIAL</b><br>
Saint Thomas Cemetery<br>
Berkeley County, South Carolina, USA