John Mathews (lawyer)

John Mathews (* 1744 in Charleston, South Carolina, † November 17, 1802 ) was an American politician and Governor of South Carolina.

Independence movement

John Mathews attended the " Middle Temple " school in London. Upon his return to the then British colony of South Carolina, he was in 1772 elected to the colonial parliament. During the years 1775 and 1776 Mathews was a delegate to two provincial congresses, on which the future of South Carolina was advised from 1776 to 1780 he was a deputy in the Parliament of South Carolina, . 1777-1778, he served as President of that body the same time he was 1778-1781 again a delegate to the Continental Congress where he voted on behalf of South. . Carolina to the Articles of Confederation. This was the first version valid to 1788 of the U.S. Constitution. Meanwhile, he also participated as a captain on the military events of the war of Independence.

Governor of North Carolina

Following the resignation of John Rutledge by the Office of the Governor Mathews was elected to succeed him. He completed only one term in office, which began on January 31, 1782 and ended on February 4, 1783. At the beginning of his tenure, the British were just driven out of South Carolina. There was now a law against loyalists, supporters of the British Crown enacted, after which it was expelled from the country and confiscated their property.

After the end of his tenure, he was in 1784 again a deputy in the House of Representatives from South Carolina. Until 1797 he was a judge in various courts. After he retired from public life, he died in November 1802.