John Peter Richardson III
83rd Governor of South Carolina
In office
November 30, 1886 – December 4, 1890
LieutenantWilliam Mauldin
Preceded byJohn Calhoun Sheppard
Succeeded byBenjamin Tillman
Treasurer of South Carolina
In office
November 30, 1880 – November 30, 1886
GovernorJohnson Hagood
Hugh Smith Thompson
John Calhoun Sheppard
Member of the South Carolina Senate from Clarendon County
In office
November 29, 1865 – April 16, 1868
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Clarendon County
In office
November 27, 1865 – November 29, 1865
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Clarendon District
In office
November 24, 1856 – November 24, 1862
Personal details
Born
John Peter Richardson III

(1831-09-25)September 25, 1831
Clarendon County, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedJuly 6, 1899(1899-07-06) (aged 67)
Richland County, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseEleanora Norvell Richardson
ChildrenWilhelmina Willis (Clarkson)
Alma materUniversity of South Carolina
ProfessionPlanter, politician
Military service
AllegianceConfederate States of America
Branch/serviceConfederate Army
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

John Peter Richardson III (September 25, 1831 – July 6, 1899) was the 83rd governor of South Carolina from 1886 to 1890.

Family and early life

Richardson was born in Clarendon County, South Carolina to John Peter Richardson II, a former Governor of South Carolina, and Juliana Augusta Manning. After graduating from South Carolina College in 1849, Richardson managed Elmswood Plantation in Clarendon County. He was also elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives during antebellum South Carolina.[1]

Service in the American Civil War

With the outbreak of the American Civil War, Richardson enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1862 and was on the staff of Brigadier General James Cantey until the end of the war. After which, he was elected in 1865 to the South Carolina House of Representatives and later that year to the South Carolina Senate. Richardson was not active in politics during the Reconstruction era, however in 1880 he returned as state Treasurer.[2][3]

Term as governor

In 1886, Richardson was endorsed by Clarendon County Democrats for the candidacy of governor. The recently formed Farmers' Association has significant influence in Richardson's nomination for candidacy. Richardson won the nomination for governorship, and subsequently went on to win the general election. He was inaugurated as governor on November 30, 1886.[3]

During his second term as governor, Richardson established Clemson College, now known as Clemson University. Richardson initially opposed the creation of Clemson, because he thought that it would siphon funds away from the already existing University of South Carolina. However, he eventually relented in November 1889, when the college was established.[3]

Death

On July 6, 1899, Richardson died in Columbia and was buried at Old Quaker Cemetery in Camden.[4]

References

  1. ^ "South Carolina Governor - John Peter Richardson, III - 1886-1890". www.sciway.net. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  2. ^ "South Carolina Governor John Peter Richardson". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on March 24, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c Edgar, Walter, ed. (2006). The South Carolina Encyclopedia. University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 9781570035982.
  4. ^ "John Peter Richardson (1829-1899) - Find A Grave". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
Party political offices Preceded byHugh Smith Thompson Democratic nominee for Governor of South Carolina 1886, 1888 Succeeded byBenjamin Tillman Political offices Preceded byJohn Calhoun Sheppard Governor of South Carolina 1886–1890 Succeeded byBenjamin Tillman
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