Johnson Hagood (governor)

Johnson Hagood ( born February 21, 1829 in Barnwell, South Carolina; † January 4, 1898 ) was an American politician and from 1880 to 1882 Governor of South Carolina.

Early years and political rise

Johnson Hagood first attended the Richmond Academy in Augusta (Georgia ) and then completed in 1847, the " Citadel " Military Academy as the best in its class. He studied law and was admitted in 1850 as a lawyer, but he preferred to live on the plantation to the profession of lawyers before. Hagood was also active in the National Guard, where he belonged to the General Staff. In addition, he was 14 years as chairman of the Committee of Visitors Citadel military academy. During the Civil War he rose to brigadier general in the army of the Confederacy. Prior to his time as governor was Hagood president of the Society for Agriculture and Crafts ( Agricultural and Mechanical Society). In 1876 he supported the governor's race by Wade Hampton III. After an unsuccessful attempt to become, in the U.S. House of Representatives elected, he was from 1876 to 1880 Head of the Court of South Carolina ( Comptroller General ).

Governor of South Carolina

In 1880 he was elected as a candidate of the Democratic Party with 96 % of the vote to the new governor. In his two-year tenure, he tried to get the economy going. In addition, duels were forbidden for all employees in the public service. The Citadel Military Academy, which had been closed since the end of the civil war, was reopened in his tenure.

Retirement

Governor Hagood abandoned in 1882 for a possible re-election. Instead, he retired to his plantation. However, he returned twice as chairman of the Agriculture Committee returned to the political stage. He died in early January 1898.