Thomas Heyward Jr. - Wikipedia

Thomas Heyward Jr. (July 28, 1746 – March 6, 1809) was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence and of the Articles of Confederation as a delegate of South Carolina.

He was born in St. Luke's Parish (now known as Jasper County),[1][2] South Carolina and educated at home, then traveled to England to study law where he was a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1775 and the following year signed the Declaration of Independence.

Heyward returned to South Carolina in 1778 to serve as a judge. In command of a militia force, he was taken prisoner by the British during the siege of Charleston. He continued to serve as a judge after the war, retiring from the bench in 1798.

He is buried at Old House Plantation near Ridgeland, Jasper County, South Carolina.[3] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.[4]

Located in Ridgeland, South Carolina, there is a school named after him called Thomas Heyward Academy. Their nickname is the rebels and colors are maroon and white.