James Burchell Richardson (1770-1836)

South Carolina Governor. His early education was confined to local schools and from an early age learned to be a planter. In 1792 he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives from Clarendon County and served in the house for ten years. In 1802 the General Assembly elected him Governor and he would serve his two year term. After his term of Governor ended he was reelected to the House and served until 1818. He was the son of General Richard Richardson of Revolutionary War fame. James was a mere boy of 11 when Colonel Banastre Tarleton arrived at the family plantation and promptly dug up the grave of his father,the General who had been dead only a short time in hopes of finding the family silver. He found none and after burning the family home allowed the family to reinter the General's body. After Richardson's public service ended he returned to his plantation, "Big Home" and continued his planting pursuits until he died.

Bio by: Saratoga