Attorney, American Patriot and South Carolina Governor.
A native of Charleston, Benjamin Guerard was South Carolina’s first Huguenot governor, serving from 1783-85.
Guerard, who studied law in England, was admitted to the South Carolina bar in 1761 and was a member of the South Carolina Provincial Assembly from 1765 to 1768. In 1778, he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and served for one term.
Guerard was dedicated to the Patriot cause. Besides contributing approximately £20,000, he enlisted in the militia and participated in the siege of Charleston by the British in 1780. When the colonists surrendered the city in May 1780 he was made a prisoner, although he was paroled. A year later, Guerard was found in violation of his parole and jailed on the schooner Pack Horse.
While incarcerated, he attempted to raise funds to provide food and clothing for his fellow prisoners by pledging his personal security.
Although the British refused this, his conduct during this time contributed to the success of his subsequent public career. Guerard was exiled to Philadelphia by the British but subsequently made his way back to South Carolina.
Guerard was elected later in 1781 to the South Carolina Senate from St. Helena's Parish and was appointed a commissioner for the state to negotiate an agreement between the British and American forces to prevent plunder and maintain order from the evacuation of British troops from the state. He returned as a member to the House of Representatives in 1783 for a brief period until his election by the General Assembly as Governor of South Carolina for a two-year term.
During his administration, Charlestown was incorporated under its present name – Charleston – and cotton was first cultivated in South Carolina for export.
He died in late 1788 in Charleston, and it is unclear if he was buried in the city, on his plantation on Goose Creek or elsewhere.
A native of Charleston, Benjamin Guerard was South Carolina’s first Huguenot governor, serving from 1783-85.
Guerard, who studied law in England, was admitted to the South Carolina bar in 1761 and was a member of the South Carolina Provincial Assembly from 1765 to 1768. In 1778, he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and served for one term.
Guerard was dedicated to the Patriot cause. Besides contributing approximately £20,000, he enlisted in the militia and participated in the siege of Charleston by the British in 1780. When the colonists surrendered the city in May 1780 he was made a prisoner, although he was paroled. A year later, Guerard was found in violation of his parole and jailed on the schooner Pack Horse.
While incarcerated, he attempted to raise funds to provide food and clothing for his fellow prisoners by pledging his personal security.
Although the British refused this, his conduct during this time contributed to the success of his subsequent public career. Guerard was exiled to Philadelphia by the British but subsequently made his way back to South Carolina.
Guerard was elected later in 1781 to the South Carolina Senate from St. Helena's Parish and was appointed a commissioner for the state to negotiate an agreement between the British and American forces to prevent plunder and maintain order from the evacuation of British troops from the state. He returned as a member to the House of Representatives in 1783 for a brief period until his election by the General Assembly as Governor of South Carolina for a two-year term.
During his administration, Charlestown was incorporated under its present name – Charleston – and cotton was first cultivated in South Carolina for export.
He died in late 1788 in Charleston, and it is unclear if he was buried in the city, on his plantation on Goose Creek or elsewhere.
Attorney, American Patriot and South Carolina Governor.
A native of Charleston, Benjamin Guerard was South Carolina’s first Huguenot governor, serving from 1783-85.
Guerard, who studied law in England, was admitted to the South Carolina bar in 1761 and was a member of the South Carolina Provincial Assembly from 1765 to 1768. In 1778, he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and served for one term.
Guerard was dedicated to the Patriot cause. Besides contributing approximately £20,000, he enlisted in the militia and participated in the siege of Charleston by the British in 1780. When the colonists surrendered the city in May 1780 he was made a prisoner, although he was paroled. A year later, Guerard was found in violation of his parole and jailed on the schooner Pack Horse.
While incarcerated, he attempted to raise funds to provide food and clothing for his fellow prisoners by pledging his personal security.
Although the British refused this, his conduct during this time contributed to the success of his subsequent public career. Guerard was exiled to Philadelphia by the British but subsequently made his way back to South Carolina.
Guerard was elected later in 1781 to the South Carolina Senate from St. Helena's Parish and was appointed a commissioner for the state to negotiate an agreement between the British and American forces to prevent plunder and maintain order from the evacuation of British troops from the state. He returned as a member to the House of Representatives in 1783 for a brief period until his election by the General Assembly as Governor of South Carolina for a two-year term.
During his administration, Charlestown was incorporated under its present name – Charleston – and cotton was first cultivated in South Carolina for export.
He died in late 1788 in Charleston, and it is unclear if he was buried in the city, on his plantation on Goose Creek or elsewhere.
A native of Charleston, Benjamin Guerard was South Carolina’s first Huguenot governor, serving from 1783-85.
Guerard, who studied law in England, was admitted to the South Carolina bar in 1761 and was a member of the South Carolina Provincial Assembly from 1765 to 1768. In 1778, he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and served for one term.
Guerard was dedicated to the Patriot cause. Besides contributing approximately £20,000, he enlisted in the militia and participated in the siege of Charleston by the British in 1780. When the colonists surrendered the city in May 1780 he was made a prisoner, although he was paroled. A year later, Guerard was found in violation of his parole and jailed on the schooner Pack Horse.
While incarcerated, he attempted to raise funds to provide food and clothing for his fellow prisoners by pledging his personal security.
Although the British refused this, his conduct during this time contributed to the success of his subsequent public career. Guerard was exiled to Philadelphia by the British but subsequently made his way back to South Carolina.
Guerard was elected later in 1781 to the South Carolina Senate from St. Helena's Parish and was appointed a commissioner for the state to negotiate an agreement between the British and American forces to prevent plunder and maintain order from the evacuation of British troops from the state. He returned as a member to the House of Representatives in 1783 for a brief period until his election by the General Assembly as Governor of South Carolina for a two-year term.
During his administration, Charlestown was incorporated under its present name – Charleston – and cotton was first cultivated in South Carolina for export.
He died in late 1788 in Charleston, and it is unclear if he was buried in the city, on his plantation on Goose Creek or elsewhere.
Family Members
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
