Robert Barnwell

Pro-Administration Representative of South Carolina's 2nd district

Congresses Served

House Terms

December 21, 1761 (52 years old)

Birthday

October 24, 1814

Death

Was a South Carolina slave owner, revolutionary, and statesman.
Served as a delegate to the Confederation Congress and a United States Congressman.
Entered the revolutionary war at the age of 16 as a private in the militia and was severely wounded in the Battle of Mathews’ Plantation.
After recovering, he rejoined the militia, was captured and imprisoned by the British in 1780, and was exchanged in 1781.
Elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives for multiple terms and served as speaker of the house in 1795.
Was a delegate to the South Carolina convention that ratified the United States Constitution in 1788.
Served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1791 to 1793 and chose not to run again.
Held the position of chair of the board of trustees for Beaufort College starting in 1795.
Elected to the South Carolina Senate for 1805–1806 and served as president of that body in 1805.
Died in Beaufort and is buried in the churchyard of the St. Helena Episcopal Church.
His son, Robert Woodward Barnwell, was a Senator in both the United States Senate and the Confederate Senate.