Arthur Middleton

Arthur Middleton ( born June 26, 1742 in Middleton Place, the country estate of his father on the Ashley River near Charleston, Berkeley County, South Carolina, colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain, now USA, † January 1, 1787 in "The Oaks " near Charleston, Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States ) was a British- American politician and is considered one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, one of the founding fathers of the United States.

Middleton was educated in Britain at Westminster School, the Hackney College and at Trinity Hall. He studied law at the Middle Temple and traveled extensively throughout Europe, was where his taste for literature, music and art developed and refined. 1764 settled Middleton and his bride Mary Izard Middleton Place. His wife was a cousin of U.S. Congressman Ralph Izard of South Carolina. In addition, Ralph Izard son was married to a niece of Middleton. Burning interested in politics Carolina was Arthur Middleton a more radical thinker than his father Henry Middleton. He was a leader of the American Party in Carolina and one of the most enthusiastic members of the safety committee and its secret committees. 1776 Arthur Middleton was elected to succeed his father in the Continental Congress, and so was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Despite the time he spent in England, his attitude was the loyalists against designated as merciless.

During the Revolutionary War, Middleton served in the defense of Charleston. After the city had fallen to the British in 1780, he was sent as a prisoner of war together with Edward Ruthledge to St. Augustine. until he was replaced in July of the following year.

Arthur Middleton died at the age of 44 and was buried in the family vault in the gardens of Middleton Place. The plantation then passed to Henry Middleton, his eldest son, also had a career in politics.