Thomas Heyward, Jr

Thomas Heyward Jr was a Signer of the Declaration of Independence from South Carolina

Thomas Heyward Jr. was an American lawyer, planter, and politician who lived from 1746 to 1809. He was born in St. Luke’s Parish, South Carolina, to a wealthy planter family. Heyward was well-educated and studied law in England before returning to South Carolina to practice.

Thomas became involved in politics in the late 1760s and early 1770s. He was a strong advocate for American independence and served as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776. Heyward, along with three other South Carolina delegates, Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton, and Thomas Lynch Jr., signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Thomas Heyward Jr was also a signer of the Articles of Confederation

Thomas Heyward’s political career continued after the American Revolution. He served as a judge and a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Heyward was also involved in the development of the University of South Carolina and served as a trustee of the institution.

Mr. Heyward was a wealthy man and owned several plantations in South Carolina. He was a slave owner and had a significant role in the economy of the state. However, Heyward also had concerns about the morality of slavery and was a member of the American Colonization Society, which advocated for the resettlement of free blacks to Africa.

Thomas Heyward Jr. died in 1809 and is buried at Old House Plantation in Jasper County, South Carolina. He is remembered as a Founding Father who played an essential role in the fight for American independence and the development of South Carolina.

Here is an article on Thomas Heyward Jr. from the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence – https://www.dsdi1776.com/signer/thomas-heyward-jr/