Pierce Butler – SC Revolutionary War Hero & US Senator

 Learn more about SC & the American Revolution

Pierce Butler was instrumental in forming the government of the United States of American. He is credited with the creation of the Electoral College election method. Margaret Mitchell chose the Butler name along with another well known South Carolina last name, Rhett, for her famous character Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind.

There are actually two notable, but not related, Pierce Butlers in South Carolina's history. Pierce Butler whom this page is about and Pierce Mason Butler, South Carolina's governor 1836-1838. To learn more about Pierce Mason Butler the governor click here.

Biographical Resources

• Pierce Butler biography - 1744-1822
• Signer of the US Constitution
  – Helped draft Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11 - Congress has power to declare war - scroll down
  – How this clause was created
  
• First US Senator from South Carolina - US Congress biography
• South Carolina's first Adjutant General - scroll down to the paragraph that begins beside the 4th graphic on the page
  

Pierce Butler Documents

• Pierce Butler papers - collection held by the South Caroliniana Library
  
• Butler Plantation papers (1744-1822) - Georgia plantations
  – Detailed listing
  

Pierce Butler, Mary Middleton SC Plantations

• Brewton Plantation - Beaufort County
  
• Summit Plantation - Charleston County