Franklin Moses

Franklin Moses

Franklin Israel Moses Jr. (* 1838 in Sumter County , South Carolina , † December 11, 1906 in Winthrop , Suffolk County , Massachusetts ) was an American politician and governor of South Carolina from 1872 to 1874 .

Early years and political advancement

The exact date of birth of Franklin Moses is unknown. Sources agree that he was born in 1838. His name is also confusing. It was actually supposed to be called Franklin I. Moses. However, due to a mix-up, the “I” became a “J”. He was the son of the same name later Chief Justice of South Carolina and his wife Jane McLellan. The young Franklin attended South Carolina College, later the University of South Carolina , until 1855 and then studied law. In 1860, Moses became the private secretary of Governor Francis Wilkinson Pickens . During the Civil War he brought up to the Colonel in the arms of the Confederation. In the years 1866 to 1867 he was the newspaper "Sumter News" out. He was also on the board of directors of the Episcopal Church of Sumter. At the same time he was inspector of the National Guard, curator of the University of South Carolina and a member of the state parliament.

Governor of south carolina

In 1872, Moses was elected governor of South Carolina with 65.4% of the vote against Reuben Tomilson. Despite the clear election result, his choice was controversial. In the years leading up to the election, he was already in the crossfire of criticism because he was accused of both public and private mismanagement, waste and bribery. He owed the election victory to the black electorate, which he was able to mobilize for himself. National debt continued to rise during his two-year tenure. Irregularities continued. Attempts to accuse the governor of mismanagement failed in court and he was able to terminate his term of office despite the protests. However, he was not nominated for a second term.

Another résumé

Moses applied for the position of judge after the end of his term of office. This request was rejected by his successor. In the years that followed, his lifestyle was not exemplary either. The sources report other irregularities, theft and fraud related to Franklin Moses. He was convicted several times, but managed to be pardoned again and again. Among other things, he was sentenced to three years in prison in Massachusetts in 1885 . In the end, he was even isolated from his family because of his dubious behavior. His marriage to Emma Buford Richardson divorced in 1878. He died in 1906.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 4. Meckler Books, Westport, CT, 1978. 4 volumes.
• The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. 12. James T. White & Company, New York

Web links

• Franklin Moses in the NGA
• South Carolina Information Highway (English)
• Franklin Moses in the database of Find a Grave (English)