Signer of the Declaration of Independence from South Carolina. Born near Georgetown, South Carolina, Thomas Lynch, Junior, graduated from Cambridge University and studied law in London. He returned home and married Elizabeth Shubrick, and settled down to life as a lawmaker and wealthy planter. At the start of the American Revolution, he volunteered for the Army, and while in North Carolina, he became severely ill, possibly from malaria, which left him a semi-invalid for the rest of his life. While representing South Carolina in the Second Continental Congress, his father, Thomas Lynch Senior suffered a stroke on February 20, 1776, and in March the SC Legislature elected Thomas Jr. to go to Congress to care for his father and to take over his father’s duties as an additional delegate. Although in poor health himself, Thomas Jr. found his father too ill to continue, and remained just long enough in Philadelphia to vote for independence and to sign the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Lynch Sr. eventually improved, but not enough to sign the Declaration of Independence himself. In late 1776, father and son headed home together. While stopping in Annapolis, Maryland in December 1776, Thomas Senior suffered a second stroke and died. Thomas Jr. reached home, but his own health was failing. Hoping that an ocean voyage and a change in climate would help him recover, he and his wife, Elizabeth, embarked on an ocean voyage in late 1779. The ship was lost at sea with all aboard. The couple had no children.
Signer of the Declaration of Independence from South Carolina. Born near Georgetown, South Carolina, Thomas Lynch, Junior, graduated from Cambridge University and studied law in London. He returned home and married Elizabeth Shubrick, and settled down to life as a lawmaker and wealthy planter. At the start of the American Revolution, he volunteered for the Army, and while in North Carolina, he became severely ill, possibly from malaria, which left him a semi-invalid for the rest of his life. While representing South Carolina in the Second Continental Congress, his father, Thomas Lynch Senior suffered a stroke on February 20, 1776, and in March the SC Legislature elected Thomas Jr. to go to Congress to care for his father and to take over his father’s duties as an additional delegate. Although in poor health himself, Thomas Jr. found his father too ill to continue, and remained just long enough in Philadelphia to vote for independence and to sign the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Lynch Sr. eventually improved, but not enough to sign the Declaration of Independence himself. In late 1776, father and son headed home together. While stopping in Annapolis, Maryland in December 1776, Thomas Senior suffered a second stroke and died. Thomas Jr. reached home, but his own health was failing. Hoping that an ocean voyage and a change in climate would help him recover, he and his wife, Elizabeth, embarked on an ocean voyage in late 1779. The ship was lost at sea with all aboard. The couple had no children.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
Family Members
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