South Carolina Governors – James Hamilton, Jr., 1830-1832

Biographical Overview

• Born: May 8, 1786 in Charleston, SC
  
• Died: November 15, 1857 in the Gulf of Mexico
  
• Religion: Episcopalian
  
• Political Party: Democrat
  

Education

• Studied law in Charleston, SC
  

Occupation

• Major, United States Army
• Planter
• Lawyer

Major Events and Accomplishments, 1830–1832

• 1832 – The US Congress passed the Tariff of 1832
  
• 1832 – Governor Hamilton presided over the convention that passed the Ordinance of Nullification
  

Other Government Positions

• South Carolina House of Representatives, 1820-1822
  
• US House of Representatives, 1822-1829
  
• South Carolina Senate, 1836
  

Other Accomplishments, Honors, Distinctions

• Hamilton declined an offer from President Andrew Jackson to become United States Secretary of War
  
• Hamilton helped found the Southern Quarterly Review
  
• The Republic of Texas honored Hamilton with the title "perpetual citizen of the Republic of Texas", 1835
  
• Hamilton died in a shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico, 1857
  

Election Results

• On December 9, 1830, the South Carolina General Assembly elected Hamilton for governor by secret ballot.
  

Web Resources

• Biographical information - US Congress