Pierce Mason Butler

Pierce Mason Butler (born April 11, 1798 in Mount Willing , South Carolina , † December 22, 1846 in Mexico ) was an American politician and governor of South Carolina from 1836 to 1838.

Early years

The young Pierce Butler attended Moses Waddel's Academy in Abbeville, South Carolina. After that, he initially decided on a military career. Between 1818 and 1829 he was an officer in the US Army and made it up to captain.

Rise in South Carolina

In 1829 he resigned from military service and entered the banking industry. He was soon president of the State Bank of South Carolina . Butler was never in his country's House of Representatives or Senate, nor in the US Congress. However, he was a delegate at a congress in South Carolina in 1832 about how to proceed with the nullification crisis . There he voted for the annulment of federal laws. In 1833 he became a curator of South Carolina College, now the University of South Carolina . In the Seminole War that broke out shortly afterwards , he was again active in the military. As Lieutenant Colonel, he commanded a unit of the National Guard. In 1836 he returned to Columbia.

Governor of south carolina

In 1836, Butler was elected the new governor of his state by the House of Representatives. His term of office began in December of that year and ended two years later on December 10, 1838. As governor, he tried to calm the domestic political situation after the crisis of nullification. He also looked after the country's neglected school system and set up a commission to make suggestions for improvement in this area. In addition, he also tried to improve the infrastructure. In particular, a railroad was to be built from South Carolina to the Ohio Valley. This project then fell victim to the economic crisis that broke out in 1837. The crisis also affected the country's banking and economic system, triggering the so-called panic of 1837.

Further career

After the end of his tenure, Butler was appointed Indian agent. He held this post until 1846. In that year he resigned from his post for health reasons. But he insisted on taking command again when the American-Mexican War broke out. He was promoted to Colonel and led his regiment, which was composed of volunteers from South Carolina, into the war. He was then fatally wounded in the battle of Churubusku . He was buried in the Edgefield District, South Carolina. Pierce Butler was married to Miranda Julia Duval. The couple had six children. Pierce Butler's brothers William and Andrew were Congressmen, as was their father, William .

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.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Butler, Pierce Mason
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Governor of south carolina
DATE OF BIRTH	April 11, 1798
PLACE OF BIRTH	Mount Willing , South Carolina
DATE OF DEATH	December 22, 1846
Place of death	Mexico