John Peter Richardson II
Encyclopedia
John Peter Richardson II (April 14, 1801 January 24, 1864) was the 59th Governor
of South Carolina
from 1840 to 1842.
. He graduated from South Carolina College
in 1819 and practiced law upon passing the bar. At the age of 24, Richardson was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
in 1825 and was known as a Unionist during the Nullification Crisis
of the early 1830s. He was elevated to the South Carolina Senate
in 1834 and successfully won a seat in Congress
as a Jacksonian
for the 7th district
after the death of Richard Irvine Manning I
in 1836. Switching to the 8th district
and running as a Democrat, Richardson won re-election to Congress for a full term.
taking control of the federal government and enacting high tariffs. The only option that they felt available to them was the reconciliation of the factions in South Carolina and to put up a united opposition through the Democratic Party. John C. Calhoun
, Robert Rhett
and Franklin H. Elmore
led the effort to unite the Unionists and the Secessionists and one measure undertaken to reunite the factions was the election of Richardson as Governor of South Carolina in 1840. Nonetheless, extreme secessionists opposed a Unionist being governor and James Henry Hammond
entered the gubernatorial race to oppose Richardson. The South Carolina General Assembly
followed the lead of Calhoun to end the infighting and Richardson was elected governor.
Richardson's term as governor was marked by the Bank of South Carolina refusing to adopt new banking regulations and the enactment of the Tariff of 1842
by the federal government. He promoted the establishment of the South Carolina Military Academy
in Charleston
because he felt that the militia of the state should be well educated and trained.
at the Secession Convention of 1860. He died in Fulton
on January 24, 1864, and was buried at the Richardson Cemetery on Hickory Hill Plantation.
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...
of 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...
from 1840 to 1842.
Early life and career
Born on Hickory Hill Plantation in Clarendon County, Richardson was educated at Moses Waddel's School in WillingtonWillington, South Carolina
Willington is a census-designated place in McCormick County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 177 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Willington is located at ....
. He graduated from South Carolina College
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
in 1819 and practiced law upon passing the bar. At the age of 24, Richardson was elected to 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...
in 1825 and was known as a Unionist during the Nullification Crisis
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...
of the early 1830s. He was elevated 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...
in 1834 and successfully won a seat in Congress
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a Jacksonian
Jacksonian democracy
Jacksonian democracy is the political movement toward greater democracy for the common man typified by American politician Andrew Jackson and his supporters. Jackson's policies followed the era of Jeffersonian democracy which dominated the previous political era. The Democratic-Republican Party of...
for the 7th district
South Carolina's 7th congressional district
For other uses see SC 7 The 7th Congressional District of South Carolina was a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in South Carolina. It was first eliminated in 1853 as a result of the 1850 Census. After the 1880 Census, it was again reconstituted for 50 years...
after the death of Richard Irvine Manning I
Richard Irvine Manning I
Richard Irvine Manning I was the 50th Governor of South Carolina from 1824 to 1826 and was later a Representative in the United States Congress.-Early life and career:...
in 1836. Switching to the 8th district
South Carolina's 8th congressional district
The 8th Congressional District of South Carolina was a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in South Carolina. It was created in 1803 as a result of the 1800 Census and eliminated in 1843 as a result of the 1840 Census. The district was last represented by Thomas De...
and running as a Democrat, Richardson won re-election to Congress for a full term.
As Governor
By the late 1830s, South Carolina's political leaders grew increasingly anxious about the prospects of the WhigsWhig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
taking control of the federal government and enacting high tariffs. The only option that they felt available to them was the reconciliation of the factions in South Carolina and to put up a united opposition through the Democratic Party. John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
, Robert Rhett
Robert Rhett
Robert Barnwell Rhett, Sr. , was a United States secessionist politician from South Carolina.-Biography:...
and Franklin H. Elmore
Franklin H. Elmore
Franklin Harper Elmore was a United States Representative and Senator. Born in Laurens District, he graduated from the South Carolina College at Columbia in 1819, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1821 and commenced practice in Walterboro...
led the effort to unite the Unionists and the Secessionists and one measure undertaken to reunite the factions was the election of Richardson as Governor of South Carolina in 1840. Nonetheless, extreme secessionists opposed a Unionist being governor and James Henry Hammond
James Henry Hammond
James Henry Hammond was a politician from South Carolina. He served as a United States Representative from 1835 to 1836, the 60th Governor of South Carolina from 1842 to 1844, and United States Senator from 1857 to 1860...
entered the gubernatorial race to oppose Richardson. The South Carolina General Assembly
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
followed the lead of Calhoun to end the infighting and Richardson was elected governor.
Richardson's term as governor was marked by the Bank of South Carolina refusing to adopt new banking regulations and the enactment of the Tariff of 1842
Tariff of 1842
The Tariff of 1842, or Black Tariff as it became known, was a protectionist tariff schedule adopted in the United States to reverse the effects of the Compromise Tariff of 1833...
by the federal government. He promoted the establishment of the South Carolina Military Academy
The Citadel (military college)
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
in Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
because he felt that the militia of the state should be well educated and trained.
Later life
Upon leaving the governorship in 1842, Richardson remained active in politics by participating at the Southern Convention of 1850, the Southern Rights Convention of 1852 and he signed the Ordinance of SecessionOrdinance of Secession
The Ordinance of Secession was the document drafted and ratified in 1860 and 1861 by the states officially seceding from the United States of America...
at the Secession Convention of 1860. He died in Fulton
Pinewood, South Carolina
Pinewood is a town located on South Carolina Highway 261 at the southern entrance to the High Hills of Santee in Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 459 at the 2000 census...
on January 24, 1864, and was buried at the Richardson Cemetery on Hickory Hill Plantation.