Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800

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Edward Rutledge (November 23, 1749 – January 23, 1800) was an American Founding Father and politician who signed the Continental Association and was the youngest signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence. He later served as the 39th Governor of South Carolina from December 1798 until his death.

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Rutledge was educated in law at Oxford and studied for and was admitted to the English Bar. Returning to Charleston, he had a successful law practice with his partner, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and became a leading citizen of Charleston. During the American Revolution Rutledge served along with his brother John representing South Carolina in the Continental Congress (1774-1776). He worked to have African Americans expelled from the Continental Army. Although a firm supporter of colonial rights, he (as a delegate) was instructed initially to oppose Lee's Resolution of independence; South Carolina's leaders were unsure that the time was "ripe." At age 26 he was the youngest delegate to sign the Declaration of Independence.

Rutledge returned home in November 1776 to take a seat in the General Assembly. He served as a captain of artillery in the South Carolina militia, and fought at the Battle of Beaufort in 1779. In May 1780, Rutledge was captured along with his co-signers of the Declaration of Independence, Arthur Middleton and Thomas Heyward during the siege of Charleston. They were released during a prisoner exchange in July 1781. After his release he returned to the General Assembly, where he served until 1796. Rutledge then served in the state senate for two years, until being elected governor in 1798. While attending an important meeting in Columbia, had to be sent home because of his gout. He died in Charleston and was buried in Charleston's Saint Philip's Episcopal Church Cemetery.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Letters and documents of signers of the Declaration of Independence, 1750-1933. Houghton Library
referencedIn Saylor, David, ca. 1749-1791. David Saylor receipt book, 1784-1787. South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Wythe, George, 1726-1806. Letter to John Page, 1776 October 7. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Papers, 1790-1802 Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Papers, 1790-1820. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Hutson, Richard, 1748-1795. Richard Hutson letterbook, 1765-1777. South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Logan, Deborah Norris, 1761-1839. Diaries, 1815-1839. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn United States. President (1789-1797 : Washington). Old Fort Harrod State Park early document collection, 1775-1799. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky Guide Project Office
referencedIn Henry A. Willard II Collection, 1743-1888, (bulk 1770-1840) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Smith, William Loughton, 1758-1812. William Loughton Smith papers, 1774-1834. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Letter : to Arthur Middleton, Philadelphia, [Pa.], 1782 April 14. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. ALS, 1792 May 31 : [s.l.], to Jeremiah Wadsworth, Hartford. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. ALS, 1782 April 23 : Cane Acre [near Charleston], to Arthur Middleton. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. ALS, 1776 Aug. [no day], to Robert Morris. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Wertheim, E. L. [Collection of material relating to the erection of a memorial at the Conference House, Tottenville, Staten Island.]. New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. ALS (draft, initials), [1789], Charleston, S.C., to George Washington. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Edward Rutledge will, 1799. South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Nathanael Greene papers 1762-1852 1780-1785 Greene, Nathanael, papers William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Signers collection, 1770-1826. Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Thomas Jefferson letter to Edward Rutledge [manuscript], 1796 December 27. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Admiral Lord Richard Howe papers, 1775-1776 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Gourdin family. Gourdin allied family papers, 1707-1903. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter to Edward Rutledge, 1796 December 27. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume V, Miscellany, 1764-1792 Cornell University Library
creatorOf Huger, Francis Kinloch, 1773-1855. Papers of Francis Kinloch Huger [manuscript] 1795-1897. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Stewart, Francis B., Mrs.,. Mrs. Francis B. Stewart collection [manuscript], 1745-1918. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Letter to Nathanael Greene and portrait, 1776 October 22 and n.d. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Douglas, Mrs., fl. 1827,. Miscellaneous items from the collection of Christian Hutter [manuscript] 1700-1851. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf South Carolina. Court of Common Pleas. Attachment, 1774 Jan. 4, Charleston, S.C., against John Clayton. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Johnson, Katherine M. Washington's death: national tragedy in a local setting [2003 Dec.] ; [typescript] / Johnson, Katie. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Letter to Richard Lushington, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. ALS, 1787 March 27 : (Charlestown), to unknown in New York. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Blyth family. Blyth family papers, 1732-1841. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Letters to Sarah Rutledge, 1793-1799. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Hunter-Hitchcock-Coit families. Papers, 1765-1925. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Rutledge, John, 1739-1800. [Document] 1794 Aug. 1 / J. Rutledge. Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Bamberger, Louis, 1855-1944,. Autograph collection, 1683-1929. New Jersey Historical Society Library
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Papers, 1790-1820. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Letter : Charleston, [S.C.] to [Sarah Rutledge], 1795 June 4. South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Philip, Pierre. Plan of a fortification who seems necessary on Shutters Folly Island to second the firing of Fort Johnson on any vessel that might have forced her passage through Fort Moultrie & would fetch a passage through the sand bank that extends from Charlestown Point to Shutters Folly : This fortification may easily be erected with (fassing) of sand & wood under which mines could be managed for in case of need have her destroyed ... Presented to his excellency Edward Ruttledge ... / Pre Philip. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Middleton, Henry, 1770-1846. Letter, 1792 June 1, Charleston, South Carolina to Thomas Jefferson, n.p. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Jay, John, 1745-1829. Letter : New York, to Edward Rutledge, 1787 Feb. 25. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952,. Signers of the Declaration of Independence autograph collection, 1756-1818. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Collection of documents concerning the American Revolution, 1740-1866 Houghton Library
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Letter : Charleston, [S.C.], to Dr. Blythe, 1799 April 12. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Letter : to [George Washington], [1789]. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. ALS, 1796 May 31 : [Charleston, S.C.], Broad Street, to his daughter, London. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Autograph letter signed, 1788 May 5. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Meleney, John C., 1921-. John C. Meleney research files, 1775-1986, (bulk, 1775-1808). University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Bill of revivor, 1789. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Letter : to [George Washington], 1790 Jan. 11. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. ALS, 1776 November 23 : Philadelphia, to Robert Livingston. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf South Carolina. Governor. Speech : manuscript, [1798 Dec., no day], to the South Carolina Legislature. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Stewart, Francis B., Mrs.,. Mrs. Francis B. Stewart papers, 1745-1918 [microfilm manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Huger family. Papers, 1795-1897. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Letter : Charleston, to "Tom", 1779 Feb. 17. South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Manigault, Margaret Izard, 1768-1824. Papers, 1779-1857. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Dreer, Ferdinand Julius, 1812-1902,. Political and military history papers, 1518-1864. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Livingston, Robert R., 1746-1813. ALS, [ca. 1776 October] : [s.l.], to Edward Rutledge. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Adams, Gilmer Speed, 1854-. Papers collected by Gilmer Speed Adams, 1651-1879. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn Vanderhorst, John, d. 1787. John Vanderhorst papers, 1774-1804 (bulk 1786-1804). South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. ALS, 1795 Mar. 18, to his daughter. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800. Letters of Edward Rutledge, 1788-1797. Library of Congress
Role Title Holding Repository

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associatedWith Adams, Gilmer Speed, 1854- person
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associatedWith Blyth, Joseph. person
associatedWith Da Costa, Joseph, 1759-1809. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Drayton, William, 1732-1790. person
associatedWith Dreer, Ferdinand Julius, 1812-1902, person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Evans, George. person
associatedWith Gourdin family. family
associatedWith Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786, person
associatedWith Howe, Richard Howe, Earl, 1726-1799 person
associatedWith Hubbard, John, collector. person
associatedWith Huger family. family
associatedWith Huger, Francis Kinloch, 1773-1855. person
associatedWith Hunter-Hitchcock-Coit families. family
associatedWith Hutson, Richard, 1748-1795. person
associatedWith Jay, John, 1745-1829. person
associatedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. person
associatedWith Johnson, Katherine M. person
associatedWith Livingston, Robert R., 1746-1813. person
associatedWith Logan, Deborah Norris, 1761-1839. person
associatedWith Longacre, James Barton, 1794-1869. person
associatedWith Lushington, Richard, person
associatedWith Manigault, Margaret Izard, 1768-1824. person
associatedWith Mathews, John, 1744-1802. person
associatedWith Mathews, Sarah Rutledge, 1742-1819. person
associatedWith Meleney, John C., 1921- person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Middle Temple (London, England) corporateBody
associatedWith Middleton, Arthur, 1742-1787. person
associatedWith Middleton, Henry. person
associatedWith Middleton, Henry, 1770-1846. person
associatedWith Miller, Phineas. person
associatedWith Morris, Robert, 1734-1806. person
associatedWith Philip, Pierre. person
associatedWith Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth, 1746-1825. person
associatedWith Pinckney, Thomas, 1750-1828. person
associatedWith Rapley, Richard Andrew, d. 1823. person
associatedWith Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952, person
memberOf Rutledge family. family
sibling of Rutledge, John, 1739-1800. person
associatedWith Rutledge, Mary. person
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memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
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associatedWith Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804. person
associatedWith Washington, George, 1732-1799. person
associatedWith Willard, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1902- person
associatedWith William L. Clements Library corporateBody
associatedWith Wythe, George, 1726-1806. person
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Birth 1749-11-23

Death 1800-01-23

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