Richard Beresford

Richard Beresford (* 1755 in Charleston, South Carolina, † February 6, 1803 in Charleston, South Carolina) was an American lawyer and officer in the Continental Army and politicians of the Province of South Carolina.

Career

The date of birth of Richard Beresford is unknown. He was in the church of St. on June 3, 1755 Thomas and St. Denis Parish in Berkeley County ( South Carolina) baptized. Beresford grew up in a wealthy family. He was sent to England where he studied at the Middle Temple in London Jura. Beresford graduated in 1773 and then returned to South Carolina, where he began to practice as a lawyer. In addition, he was also known as plantation owners. He owned extensive lands in Berkeley and Colleton Counties (South Carolina) as well as England.

Beresford fought during the American Revolutionary War in the Continental Army. He served under Brigadier-General Huger in the Georgia campaign of 1778. Thereafter, he worked as an aide- de-camp of Brigadier General Moultrie. At that time, he held the rank of captain. After the fall of Charleston in May 1780, he was taken prisoner and was imprisoned until his replacement in 1781 in St. Augustine (Florida ). One of his fellow prisoners was Christopher Gadsden, the then Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina.

After returning to South Carolina Beresford 1781 by the parishes of St. Philips and St. Michael was elected to the House of Representatives from South Carolina. On January 30, 1782 he was elected the South Carolina General Assembly for a two-year term in the State Council ( Privy Council ). He was elected in January 1783 Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. As a result, he resigned his seat in parliament. Beresford held the post of Deputy Governor of 4 February 1783 to his resignation on 15 March 1783. At this time he was elected to the Continental Congress, there to fill the vacancy of John Lewis Gervais. Beresford was there as a delegate of 30 May 1783 to the June 3, 1784. After he retired from the political scene and started work on his plantation again. In addition, he was also active literary. He published in 1798 Vigil in Charleston.