SC Governors – Miles Benjamin McSweeney, 1899-1903

Biographical Overview

• Born: April 18, 1855 in Charleston, South Carolina
  
• Died: July 4, 1921 in Charleston, South Carolina
  
• Buried: Methodist cemetery in Hampton, South Carolina
  
• Religion: Methodist
  
• Political Party: Democrat
  

Education

• Washington and Lee University - Lexington, VA - withdrew due to lack of funds
  

Occupations

• Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army
• Newspaper publisher

Major Events and Accomplishments, 1st Term, 1899–1901

• September 29-October 2, 1900 – Four days of riots in Georgetown ended the Reconstruction "fusion" system that divided county offices between black Republicans and white Democrats
  

Major Events and Accomplishments, 2nd Term, 1901–1903

• February 22, 1902 – US Senator and former Governor Ben Tillman assaulted Senator John L. McLaurin of South Carolina in the US Senate chamber
  
• January 5, 1903 – Theodore Roosevelt appointed a black man, Dr. William D. Crum, collector of customs for the Port of Charleston
  
• January 15, 1903 – Lieutenant Governor James H. Tillman, nephew of former Governor Ben Tillman, shot and killed N. G. Gonzales, editor of The State
  

Other Government Positions

• South Carolina House of Representatives, 1894
  
• Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, 1897-1899
  

Other Accomplishments, Honors, Distinctions

• Founded, edited, and published the Hampton County Guardian, a weekly South Carolina newspaper
  
• Served as president of the South Carolina Press Association
  

Election Results, 1st Term

• On June 2, 1899, McSweeney succeeded to office following the death of Governor William H. Ellerbe
  

Election Results, 2nd Term

• On November 6, 1900, Governor McSweeney was reelected without opposition, receiving 46,457 votes
  

Web Resources

• Listing of records available at SC Archives and History Center