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Arthur Middleton (June 26, 1742 – January 1, 1787), of Charleston, South Carolina, was a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence.
His parents were Henry Middleton and Mary Baker Williams, both of English descent. He was educated in Britain, at Harrow School, Westminster School, and Trinity Hall, Cambridge.[1] He studied law at the Middle Temple and traveled extensively in Europe where his taste in literature, music, and art was developed and refined. In 1764, Arthur and his bride Mary Izard settled at Middleton Place.
Keenly interested in Carolina, Middleton was a more radical thinker than his father, Henry Middleton. He was a leader of the American Party in Carolina and one of the boldest members of the Council of Safety and its Secret Committee. In 1776, Arthur was elected to succeed his father in the Continental Congress and subsequently was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. Also in 1776, he and William Henry Drayton designed the Great Seal of South Carolina. Despite the time he spent in England, his attitude toward Loyalists was said to be ruthless.
During the American Revolutionary War, Middleton served in the defense of Charleston. After the city's fall to the British in 1780, he was sent as a prisoner of war to St. Augustine, Florida (along with Edward Rutledge and Thomas Heyward Jr.), until exchanged in July the following year.
Middleton died on January 1, 1787 at the age of 44 and was buried in the family tomb in the Gardens at Middleton Place.[2] The death notice from the State Gazette of South-Carolina (SC), Jan. 4, 1787, described him as a "tender husband and parent, humane master, steady unshaken patriot, the gentleman, and the scholar."
The plantation then passed to Henry, his eldest son, later Governor of South Carolina, U.S. Representative and Minister to Russia. Arthur Middleton was also an ancestor of actor Charles B. Middleton, who played Ming the Merciless in the Flash Gordon movies of the 1930s. Arthur Middleton's son-in-law was Congressman Daniel Elliott Huger who was the grandfather-in-law of Confederate General Arthur Middleton Manigault who was also a descendant of Henry Middleton.
Arthur Middleton's sister, Susannah Middleton, was the great-great-grandmother of Baldur von Schirach, onetime leader of the Hitler Youth and later Governor ("Gauleiter" or "Reichsstatthalter") of the Reichsgau Vienna, who was convicted of "crimes against humanity" at the Nuremberg Trials, through Baldur Von Schirach's mother Emma Middleton Lynah Tillou (1872–1944).
The tomb of Arthur Middleton at Middleton Place
The United States Navy ship USS Arthur Middleton (AP-55/APA-25) was named for him.
His parents were Henry Middleton and Mary Baker Williams, both of English descent. He was educated in Britain, at Harrow School, Westminster School, and Trinity Hall, Cambridge.[1] He studied law at the Middle Temple and traveled extensively in Europe where his taste in literature, music, and art was developed and refined. In 1764, Arthur and his bride Mary Izard settled at Middleton Place.
Keenly interested in Carolina, Middleton was a more radical thinker than his father, Henry Middleton. He was a leader of the American Party in Carolina and one of the boldest members of the Council of Safety and its Secret Committee. In 1776, Arthur was elected to succeed his father in the Continental Congress and subsequently was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. Also in 1776, he and William Henry Drayton designed the Great Seal of South Carolina. Despite the time he spent in England, his attitude toward Loyalists was said to be ruthless.
During the American Revolutionary War, Middleton served in the defense of Charleston. After the city's fall to the British in 1780, he was sent as a prisoner of war to St. Augustine, Florida (along with Edward Rutledge and Thomas Heyward Jr.), until exchanged in July the following year.
Middleton died on January 1, 1787 at the age of 44 and was buried in the family tomb in the Gardens at Middleton Place.[2] The death notice from the State Gazette of South-Carolina (SC), Jan. 4, 1787, described him as a "tender husband and parent, humane master, steady unshaken patriot, the gentleman, and the scholar."
The plantation then passed to Henry, his eldest son, later Governor of South Carolina, U.S. Representative and Minister to Russia. Arthur Middleton was also an ancestor of actor Charles B. Middleton, who played Ming the Merciless in the Flash Gordon movies of the 1930s. Arthur Middleton's son-in-law was Congressman Daniel Elliott Huger who was the grandfather-in-law of Confederate General Arthur Middleton Manigault who was also a descendant of Henry Middleton.
Arthur Middleton's sister, Susannah Middleton, was the great-great-grandmother of Baldur von Schirach, onetime leader of the Hitler Youth and later Governor ("Gauleiter" or "Reichsstatthalter") of the Reichsgau Vienna, who was convicted of "crimes against humanity" at the Nuremberg Trials, through Baldur Von Schirach's mother Emma Middleton Lynah Tillou (1872–1944).
The tomb of Arthur Middleton at Middleton Place
The United States Navy ship USS Arthur Middleton (AP-55/APA-25) was named for him.
Arthur Middleton - Wikipedia
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War of Independence
American History
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A brief biography of the life of Arthur Middleton, statesman and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Through the use of archival materials, scholar in...
Thank you, my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that June 26 is the anniversary of the birth of Arthur Middleton who elected to succeed his father in the Continental Congress and subsequently was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Arthur Middleton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Fgid_aXLE
Background from revolutionary-war.net/arthur-middleton.html
"Arthur Middleton by Janelle Pavao
Arthur Middleton was a South Carolinian delegate to the Continental Congress, a United States patriot, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Arthur Middleton was born on June 26, 1742 to Henry Middleton and Mary Baker Williams, both of strong English background. As a boy he was schooled in Britain at Harrow. After, he studied at Westminster. After graduation, he continued his studies at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Later, he went on to study law at Middle Temple. Finding that he had a passion for learning, Arthur desired to study literature, music, and arts. Upon finishing law school, he went and studied abroad throughout Europe.
On August 19, 1764 Arthur took a break from his studies and married Mary Izard. The happy couple settled down in South Carolina in late 1764. Upon arriving in South Carolina, Arthur Middleton became interested in politics. His father, Henry (a member of the First Continental Congress) was never as radical as his son Arthur. As they entered into the most popular topic of the 18th century, this difference caused a lot of strife in their relationship.
Arthur became a leading member of the American Party in Carolina and an outspoken Council of Safety member. In 1776, Congress was trying to ensure that all the colonies voted in favor of independence. The vote would already be majority, but to present a united front, the vote would need to be unanimous. As such, some of the delegates were being replaced with ones that were less conservative. During this time, Arthur Middleton was asked to replace his father in the Second Continental Congress and he signed the Declaration of Independence. Later that year, Arthur Middleton and William Henry Drayton also designed the Great Seal of South Carolina.
During the War, Arthur served at Charleston. In 1780, however, Arthur Middleton was taken hostage along with Edward Rutledge, fellow signer of the Declaration, during the fall of Charleston. The two were imprisoned until the Americans were able to make a trade for them the next year. They were released in July of 1781.
Arthur Middleton died on January 1, 1787 in his home in South Carolina. He was buried there, where he still rests today."
FYI LTC Wayne Brandon LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj Robert Thornton SSG William Jones SSG Donald H "Don" Bates PO3 William Hetrick PO3 Lynn Spalding SPC Mark Huddleston SGT Rick Colburn CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke SP5 Jeannie Carle Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey Sgt Albert Castro
Arthur Middleton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Fgid_aXLE
Background from revolutionary-war.net/arthur-middleton.html
"Arthur Middleton by Janelle Pavao
Arthur Middleton was a South Carolinian delegate to the Continental Congress, a United States patriot, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Arthur Middleton was born on June 26, 1742 to Henry Middleton and Mary Baker Williams, both of strong English background. As a boy he was schooled in Britain at Harrow. After, he studied at Westminster. After graduation, he continued his studies at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Later, he went on to study law at Middle Temple. Finding that he had a passion for learning, Arthur desired to study literature, music, and arts. Upon finishing law school, he went and studied abroad throughout Europe.
On August 19, 1764 Arthur took a break from his studies and married Mary Izard. The happy couple settled down in South Carolina in late 1764. Upon arriving in South Carolina, Arthur Middleton became interested in politics. His father, Henry (a member of the First Continental Congress) was never as radical as his son Arthur. As they entered into the most popular topic of the 18th century, this difference caused a lot of strife in their relationship.
Arthur became a leading member of the American Party in Carolina and an outspoken Council of Safety member. In 1776, Congress was trying to ensure that all the colonies voted in favor of independence. The vote would already be majority, but to present a united front, the vote would need to be unanimous. As such, some of the delegates were being replaced with ones that were less conservative. During this time, Arthur Middleton was asked to replace his father in the Second Continental Congress and he signed the Declaration of Independence. Later that year, Arthur Middleton and William Henry Drayton also designed the Great Seal of South Carolina.
During the War, Arthur served at Charleston. In 1780, however, Arthur Middleton was taken hostage along with Edward Rutledge, fellow signer of the Declaration, during the fall of Charleston. The two were imprisoned until the Americans were able to make a trade for them the next year. They were released in July of 1781.
Arthur Middleton died on January 1, 1787 in his home in South Carolina. He was buried there, where he still rests today."
FYI LTC Wayne Brandon LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj Robert Thornton SSG William Jones SSG Donald H "Don" Bates PO3 William Hetrick PO3 Lynn Spalding SPC Mark Huddleston SGT Rick Colburn CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke SP5 Jeannie Carle Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey Sgt Albert Castro
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Leader of the Hitler Youth was a many times removed descendant. He himself a founder and signer of the declaration.
History weaves a tangled web
History weaves a tangled web
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