Thomas Bennett (politician)

Thomas Bennett Jr.

Thomas Bennett Jr. (born August 14, 1781 in Charleston , South Carolina , †  January 30, 1865 ibid) was an American politician and governor of the state of South Carolina from 1820 to 1822 .

Early years and political advancement

Thomas Bennett attended the College of Charleston . He then worked in various business areas, including a sawmill, a rice plantation and in banking. Finally, he served on the boards of the Merchant Bank of South Carolina and the Bank of the State of South Carolina . Bennett was a member of the Democratic Republican Party . His political career began when he was elected mayor of Charleston. He then had several administrative positions in the government of South Carolina. Between 1804 and 1818 Bennett was a member of the House of Representatives from South Carolina with two brief interruptions . From 1819 to 1820 he was a member of the State Senate .

Governor of south carolina

In late 1820, Bennett was elected governor by the MPs. His term of office ran from December 1, 1820 to December 1, 1822. His entire term of office was marked by problems related to slavery . First, a law was passed that no slaves could be released from their owners without the approval of parliament. The entry of released former slaves into South Carolina was made more difficult. There was also a slave revolt led by Denmark Vesey . Vesey spread the false rumor that slavery had been abolished by the US government and that he wanted to free the slaves in South Carolina and bring them to the Caribbean. Governor Bennett and the country's planters were quick to handle the situation. The uprising was nipped in the bud and the leaders arrested. Bennett defended slavery as a "necessary evil".

Further career

Because the South Carolina constitution did not allow two contiguous terms, Bennett was forced to resign in late 1822. Politically, he only made one appearance when he was re-elected to the Senate of his state between 1837 and 1840. He died in January 1865, shortly before the end of the civil war .

Web links

• Thomas Bennett in the National Governors Association (English)
• South Carolina Information Highway (English)
• Thomas Bennett in the database of Find a Grave (English)