James Hamilton junior

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James Hamilton Jr. (born May 8, 1786 in Charleston , South Carolina , † November 15, 1857 in the Gulf of Mexico) was an American politician and governor of the state of South Carolina from 1830 to 1832 .

Early years and political advancement

James Hamilton was on his mother's side a grandson of Thomas Lynch (1727–1776), who was a delegate to the Continental Congress . He was raised primarily in Rhode Island and Massachusetts . After returning to South Carolina, he studied law in Charleston and was admitted to the bar in 1810. He then practiced in Charleston. In the war of 1812 he took part in various functions as an officer. After the end of the war, he entered the cotton business for a short time, but then decided to continue his legal career. His political career began in 1820 when he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives . He stayed there until 1822. For a short time he was also mayor of Charleston. From 1822 to 1829 he represented South Carolina in the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC There he was chairman of the military committee.

Originally elected to parliament for the Democratic Republican Party , he switched to the Democrats after the party fell apart . He turned down an offer from the new US President Andrew Jackson , who offered him the post of Secretary of War . In March 1829, Hamilton returned to South Carolina.

Governor of south carolina

In the fall of 1830, Hamilton was elected governor by the members of parliament. His two-year term began on December 1, 1830, and ended on December 13, 1832. Like his predecessor Stephen Decatur Miller , Hamilton was an advocate for state rights against the federal government. The nullification crisis peaked during Hamilton's tenure . South Carolina had already spoken out against a new federal government protective tariff law in 1828 and was considering the possibility of an annulment of this law. The customs laws were controversial because they served the interests of emerging industries in the northern states . Their products were thereby protected from foreign competition. The south, however, was dependent on imports and the protective tariffs made imported products more expensive. In 1832 the federal government passed a new tariff law that was actually a little more favorable to the south than the old law of 1828. Even so, it was vigorously rejected in South Carolina. The governor supported his compatriots and advocated the annulment of the law. He was chairman of a convention that passed a resolution. Even then, around 30 years before the Civil War, South Carolina was considering leaving the Union. President Jackson threatened the state with war. The other southern states considered the reaction of South Carolina excessive and could not join a secession at the time. Finally, in 1833, the crisis was resolved with the help of a compromise drawn up by Senator Henry Clay .

Further life

The South Carolina constitution did not allow two consecutive terms for the governor. Therefore, Hamilton had to leave office in December 1832. He was appointed Brigadier General of the National Guard, with the stipulation that if necessary he would fight against the federal government for the nullification. Due to the above-mentioned compromise, however, there was no fighting. Hamilton then became active in the cultivation of rice and cotton. He founded the Bank of Charleston and became director of the Louisville, Cincinnati & Charleston Railroad railroad company . In 1836 he also served briefly in the South Carolina Senate . After Texas gained its independence from Mexico in the same year , Hamilton moved to this now independent area, which was only accepted as a state in the USA in 1845. He lent the young republic money from his private assets. He also entered the diplomatic service of this country and was posted to France , Belgium , Great Britain and the Netherlands to campaign for the recognition of the Republic of Texas. Even after Texas was annexed to the United States, he remained connected to this country. He lived there permanently from 1855. James Hamilton drowned in a shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico in 1857.

According to him, Hamilton County named in Texas.

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personal data
SURNAME Hamilton, James Jr.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hamilton, James
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician and governor of the state of South Carolina (1830-1832)
DATE OF BIRTH May 8, 1786
PLACE OF BIRTH Charleston , South Carolina
DATE OF DEATH November 15, 1857
Place of death Gulf of Mexico