James Hopkins Adams
Encyclopedia
James Hopkins Adams was an American
politician
from South Carolina
. He served in the South Carolina Legislature and was the 66th governor of the state.
in 1831. In 1832 he joined the South Carolina Nullification
Convention which deliberated until 1833 on whether states could nullify federal laws. He was an opponent of nullification.
He was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from 1834 to 1837, 1840 to 1841, and 1848 to 1849. In 1850, he was elected to the South Carolina Senate
, where he stayed through 1853. He served as a brigadier general of the South Carolina Militia.
In 1854, he was elected the 66th Governor of South Carolina
, a position he held through 1857. In 1856, Governor James Hopkins Adams recommended a resumption of the foreign slave trade as a way of eliminating illicit trade. The legislature rejected this proposal.
He signed the articles of secession for South Carolina, and served as a member of the commission to the United States government to negotiate the transfer of United States property in South Carolina to the state government.
He married Jane Margaret Scott in April 1832, and they had 11 children. He died in Columbia, South Carolina
, in 1861, and his remains were buried in Congaree, South Carolina.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. He served in the South Carolina Legislature and was the 66th governor of the state.
Biography
Adams was born in Minervaville, South Carolina, in 1812 to Henry Walker Adams and Mary Goodwyn Adams. He graduated from Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1831. In 1832 he joined the South Carolina Nullification
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis was a sectional crisis during the presidency of Andrew Jackson created by South Carolina's 1832 Ordinance of Nullification. This ordinance declared by the power of the State that the federal Tariff of 1828 and 1832 were unconstitutional and therefore null and void within...
Convention which deliberated until 1833 on whether states could nullify federal laws. He was an opponent of nullification.
He was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
from 1834 to 1837, 1840 to 1841, and 1848 to 1849. In 1850, he was elected to the South Carolina Senate
South Carolina Senate
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
, where he stayed through 1853. He served as a brigadier general of the South Carolina Militia.
In 1854, he was elected the 66th Governor of South Carolina
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
, a position he held through 1857. In 1856, Governor James Hopkins Adams recommended a resumption of the foreign slave trade as a way of eliminating illicit trade. The legislature rejected this proposal.
He signed the articles of secession for South Carolina, and served as a member of the commission to the United States government to negotiate the transfer of United States property in South Carolina to the state government.
He married Jane Margaret Scott in April 1832, and they had 11 children. He died in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, in 1861, and his remains were buried in Congaree, South Carolina.