South Carolina Governors – James Hopkins Adams, 1854-1856

Biographical Overview

• Born: March 15, 1812 in Minervaville, SC
  
• Died: July 13, 1861 near Columbia, SC
  
• Buried: Congaree, SC in St John's Episcopal Churchyard
• Religion: Episcopalian
  
• Political Party: Democrat
  

Education

• Yale College - graduated 1831

Occupation

• Brigadier General, South Carolina Militia
• Planter

Major Events and Accomplishments, 1854–1856

• Governor Adams supported reopening the African slave trade but could not get support from the General Assembly.
  
• Senator Preston Brooks of South Carolina attacked Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with a walking cane on the floor of the US Senate - 1856
  

Other Government Positions

• South Carolina House of Representatives, 1834-1837, 1840-1841, 1848-1849
  
• South Carolina Senate, 1850-1853
  

Other Accomplishments, Honors, Distinctions

• Adams signed the Ordinance of Secession, 1860
  
• Adams was one of three delegates sent to Washington, DC to avert war with the Union and arrange for the transfer of federal property in South Carolina to the control of the state government, 1861
  

Election Results

• On December 11, 1854, the South Carolina General Assembly elected Adams for governor by secret ballot.
  

Web Resources

• Biographical sketch - researchonline.net