Robert Woodward Barnwell
Encyclopedia
Robert Woodward Barnwell (August 10, 1801 – November 5, 1882) was an American
planter, lawyer, and educator from South Carolina
who served as a Senator in both the United States Senate
and that of the Confederate States of America
.
on August 10, 1801 into a prosperous and influential family. His father Robert Barnwell
had served in the Continental Congress
and the U.S. Congress
. This Barnwell began his advanced education at Beaufort College, then graduated from Harvard
. He returned home to manage the family plantation.
Robert Woodward's political career began in 1826 when he served in the South Carolina state House of Representatives for Beaufort County
. He held that office until 1828, when he was elected to the U.S. Congress. He served as a congressman from 1829 until 1833. (He declined to run again in 1832.) From 1833 to 1841 he was head of the South Carolina College, now known as the University of South Carolina, in Columbia
.
Barnwell was appointed to the United States Senate after the death of Franklin H. Elmore
on May 29, 1850. He served only from June until December, when after a special election Robert Barnwell Rhett replaced him. During this period the tenuous balance between the northern and southern Senators required such short-term appointments. His one distinction in the Senate involved the admission of California
as a state. He opposed statehood in vain, but then had the good grace to introduce and present the credentials for one of her new senators, John C. Frémont
.
In 1861 Barnwell was a delegate to the Confederate States of America
Provisional Congress held in Montgomery, Alabama
. At the congress' first meeting on February 4, 1861, William P. Chilton moved that Barnwell be appointed to preside temporarily over the Congress until its permanent organization. The Congress approved that proposal, but later that day, Barnwell handed the office over to Howell Cobb
. In that Congress, he cast the vote (February 9, 1861) that ensured the election of Jefferson Davis
as the first and only Confederate President, and signed the Confederate Constitution
. He represented South Carolina in the Confederate Senate from 1861 until 1865.
After the Civil War
, he returned to Columbia and the University as an instructor. He was the chairman of the faculty at the South Carolina College from 1866 until 1873 when he retired. He died in Columbia on November 5, 1882 but was buried in St. Helena's Churchyard back in Beaufort.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
planter, lawyer, and educator 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...
who served as a Senator in both the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and that of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
.
Biography
He was born in Beaufort, South CarolinaBeaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
on August 10, 1801 into a prosperous and influential family. His father Robert Barnwell
Robert Barnwell
Robert Gibbes Barnwell was a South Carolina revolutionary and statesman who was a delegate to the Confederation Congress and a United States Congressman....
had served in the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
and the U.S. 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...
. This Barnwell began his advanced education at Beaufort College, then graduated from Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He returned home to manage the family plantation.
Robert Woodward's political career began in 1826 when he served in the South Carolina state House of Representatives for Beaufort County
Beaufort County, South Carolina
-National protected areas:*Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge *Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 155,215 people, 45,532 households, and 33,056 families residing in the county. The population density was 206 people per...
. He held that office until 1828, when he was elected to the U.S. Congress. He served as a congressman from 1829 until 1833. (He declined to run again in 1832.) From 1833 to 1841 he was head of the South Carolina College, now known as the University of South Carolina, in Columbia
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...
.
Barnwell was appointed to the United States Senate after the death of 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...
on May 29, 1850. He served only from June until December, when after a special election Robert Barnwell Rhett replaced him. During this period the tenuous balance between the northern and southern Senators required such short-term appointments. His one distinction in the Senate involved the admission of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
as a state. He opposed statehood in vain, but then had the good grace to introduce and present the credentials for one of her new senators, John C. Frémont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
.
In 1861 Barnwell was a delegate to the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
Provisional Congress held in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
. At the congress' first meeting on February 4, 1861, William P. Chilton moved that Barnwell be appointed to preside temporarily over the Congress until its permanent organization. The Congress approved that proposal, but later that day, Barnwell handed the office over to Howell Cobb
Howell Cobb
Howell Cobb was an American political figure. A Southern Democrat, Cobb was a five-term member of the United States House of Representatives and Speaker of the House from 1849 to 1851...
. In that Congress, he cast the vote (February 9, 1861) that ensured the election of Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
as the first and only Confederate President, and signed the Confederate Constitution
Confederate States Constitution
The Constitution of the Confederate States of America was the supreme law of the Confederate States of America, as adopted on March 11, 1861 and in effect through the conclusion of the American Civil War. The Confederacy also operated under a Provisional Constitution from February 8, 1861 to March...
. He represented South Carolina in the Confederate Senate from 1861 until 1865.
After the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he returned to Columbia and the University as an instructor. He was the chairman of the faculty at the South Carolina College from 1866 until 1873 when he retired. He died in Columbia on November 5, 1882 but was buried in St. Helena's Churchyard back in Beaufort.