Declaration of Independence Signer. Born at Middleton Place, a plantation near Charleston, South Carolina to a wealthy family. His father, Henry Middleton, owned more than twenty plantations covering 50,000 acres (about 8 square miles) with more than 800 slaves. At age 12, he was sent to England, where he attended school and studied law. He returned home just before Christmas 1763, and the next year, married Mary Izard, with whom he would have nine children. In 1765, he was elected to the South Carolina legislature. A patriot leader early in the cause, he became a founding member of the South Carolina Council of Safety, and a vocal opponent of the Tories, those who supported Great Britain. In 1774, his father, Henry Middleton, was sent to the First Continental Congress, briefly serving as its president. Citing health reasons, Henry turned down a reappointment, and his son, Arthur, was elected to replace him. An ardent patriot, he had no problem with voting for independence and readily signed the Declaration. After a year with the Congress, he returned home to continue to help manage his parent’s estates. He was elected as a delegate to the Congress in 1778, 1779, and 1780, but refused to take a seat, remaining at home. When the British attacked Charleston, SC, in 1780, Arthur Middleton joined the Army to defend the city. When the British captured the city, Middleton was taken prisoner, along with Edward Rutledge and Thomas Heyward, Jr, two other signers of the Declaration of Independence. Middleton was imprisoned in Florida, while the British Army plundered his family estates and carried off over 200 slaves, which they sold in the British West Indies. During her husband’s imprisonment, Mary Izard Middleton had to beg help from the British to care for her children. In 1781, Arthur returned to his home and repaired the damage to the plantation. He was selected as a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation in 1781. On New Year’s Day, 1787, he died at the age of 44.