BUTTON GWINNETT was
born at Down Hatherly, Gloucestshire, England in 1735, the son of a Welsh
clergyman and an English mother. His parents were respectable and gave their
son as good an education as their moderate circumstances would allow. On coming
of age, Gwinnett became a merchant in the city of Bristol. He married when he
was twenty-two and emigrated to Charleston, South Carolina in the early 1760's.
He stayed there for about two years, and then moved to Savannah, Georgia were
in 1765 he established himself as a general trader. In 1770, after selling all
his merchandise, he purchased a large tract of land in on St. Catherine's
Island, Georgia, where he devoted himself extensively to the agricultural
pursuits of his plantation.
Prior to 1775, Gwinnett
did not take an active part in politics. However, his subsequent enthusiasm for
maintaining colonial rights attracted the attention of his fellow citizens. At
the meeting of the provincial assembly held in Savannah on January 20, 1776, he
was appointed a representative in congress and he voted for and signed the
Declaration of Independence. In October 1775, he was re-elected for the
following year. In February 1777, he was appointed a member of the Georgia
state government and is said to have furnished the basis of the constitution
that was later adopted. After the death of the president of the provincial
council, a Mr. Bullock, Gwinnett was appointed to fill the vacant office on
March 4, 1777. In May 1777, he was an unsuccessful candidate for governor of Georgia.
During the Revolutionary War Gwinnett's property was totally destroyed by the
British. At the time that he represented Georgia in Congress, Gwinnett became a
candidate for the office of brigadier general of the continental brigade about
to be assembled in Georgia. His opponent for the office was Colonel Lackland
M'Intosh. M'Intosh was appointed and Gwinnett, being unnaturally disappointed
and short of temper, was so embittered that he regarded M'Intosh as a personal
enemy from that day on.
Gwinnett became
president of the Executive Council, and he adopted several measures that were
able to mortify his adversary, General M'Intosh. One of these was the
appropriation of great power by the Executive Council over the continental army
in Georgia. General M'Intosh was consequently treated with disrespect by some
of his officers and soldiers. To humble his adversary still further, Gwinnett
projected a expedition against East Florida giving the command of the
continental troops and the Georgia Militia to himself, excluding General
M'Intosh from even the command of his own brigade. Gwinnett's office, as
president of the council, prevented him from proceeding at the head of the
expedition. The troops where by Gwinnett's orders placed under the command of a
subordinate officer of M'Intosh's brigade. The expedition nearly failed and
probably contributed to the failure of Gwinnett's election to the office of
Governor in May 1777.
The loss of the
election to Governor blasted Gwinnett's hopes and brought his political career
to an end. General M'Intosh foolishly celebrated the disappointment and
mortification of his adversary. The animosity between these two distinguished
gentlemen continued to gather strength from this time on. Finally, Gwinnett,
unmindful of the high offices that he had held and of his obligations to
society, challenged M'Intosh to a duel, which was fought on May 15, 1777. They
fought at a distance of only twelve feet and both were severely wounded.
Gwinnett's wound proved mortal and on May 27, 1777, at forty-five years of age
he died a victim to false ambition and a false sense of honor. -- Appleton's Biography
Button Gwinnett was
born in England, about the year 1735. His parents were respectable, and though
their pecuniary circumstances were moderate, they gave him the means of obtaining
an excellent education. He first commenced business as a merchant in Bristol.
Soon after his marriage, he resolved to move to America; and in the year 1770,
he embarked with his family, and arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, where
he engaged in trade, and pursued it for two years. He then disposed of his
stock in trade ; and vested the proceeds in a number of slaves, and a tract of
land on St. Catharine's Island, in Georgia. Thither he removed, and devoted his
attention to agriculture.
We possess no means of
knowing the history of Mr. Gwinnett's early life. It is probable, however, that
it was distinguished by nothing very remarkable. He is said to have early
favored the cause of the colonies, in opposition to the claims of the
parliament ; and this may have been one motive for his leaving England, and
emigrating to America. But at the time of his settling in Georgia, he found the
public feeling generally, of such an indecisive character, as induced him to
pursue a cautious line of conduct, surrounded as he was by a large proportion
of the men of influence, who were slow in their determination to oppose the
British, and espouse the cause of the American colonies. To this general
manifestation of cautious decision, which powerfully influenced the political
movements of Georgia, there were some exceptions.
Mr. Gwinnett's
anticipations of a favorable result of the contest between the colonies and
Great Britain, were, like those of many other sincere friends to their cause,
through the country, not very sanguine. His were not based on any latent
affection for his native country ; nor were they influenced by that indecision,
then so prevalent in Georgia, but brief mistaken judgment, which led him to
form conclusions contrary to his wishes. About this time he became intimate
with one of those men, who was early decided, and openly declared his
sentiments in favor of the colonies, and who was an enthusiastic partisan in
their favor. The frequent discussions which took place, respecting the subject,
and the probability of a successful resistance of the British power, between
him and Doctor Lyman Hall, (who was the person referred to,) served to obviate
his fears, and to bring him forward, to lend his whole powers in a decided
hostility to thft, British, and to a vigorous support of the colonies. This
open and decided manifestation of his feelings, in vindication and support of
the cause of his adopted country, together with a well cultivated mind, and
talents highly respectable, rendered him conspicuous and popular, especially
among those who possessed kindred feelings with his own. The number of such was
fast multiplying, although they still constituted a minority in the colony,-and
notwithstanding Georgia was the last of the colonies, which declared itself in
opposition to the British. The active influence of those decided patriots
finally prevailed, and Georgia joined the confederacy, under what was then
denominated, the Standard of Rebellion. From that period, the popular favor
conferred on Mr. Gwinnett, was extensive, and his rapid promotion in political
life, to the first dignities in the province, indirectly prepared the way for
his sudden precipitation from his elevated station, to the rank of a private
citizen; and a mortified pride, and feelings of resentment towards the
instruments of his humiliation spurred him onward to that step which at once
closed his career in politics, and with it his life. His sun rose suddenly—its
course to the zenith was rapid and brilliant—its descent was hurried and
ominous of evil—and it sat in blood !
In deciding on the
apparent luke warmness of Mr. Gwinnett, relative to the American cause, which
for a time marked his political conduct, we should recollect that his property,
lying in an indefensible situation, was exposed to become a sure sacrifice,
should an invasion ensue, and that was a certain consequence of the
commencement of open hostilities. This must be admitted as a powerful motive to
operate on the feelings, and regulate the conduct of men. It could neither be
removed to a place of security, nor protected as it lay. And it was in fact,
totally destroyed by the British. The decided part which he did take,
therefore, furnished a strong testimony to the purity of his patriotism.
In the beginning of
1775, Mr. Gwinnett openly espoused independence of America, and took a part with
the colonies. No part of Georgia had at that time been represented in the
continental congress, except the parish of St. John. This had previously
separated from the province, and had appointed a representative for that
district. Here the patriotism of Georgia seems to have concentered; and slowly
to have diffused self into other more remote parts of the colony, with rather
idilatory progress.
Mr. Gwinnett having
attracted the attention of that community to himself, and become popular, by
the spirited manner in which he espoused the cause of his adopted country, he
was appointed a representative in congress by the general assembly, in
February, 1776. His colleagues appointed at the same time, were his early
friend Doctor Lyman Hall, Archibald Bullock, George Houston, and George Walton.
There was one member, that was elected the year preceding, who, when the
subject of independence came to be seriously contemplated, being fixedly
opposed to it, vacated his seat, and Mr. Bullock remained in Georgia after his
election. These particulars will account for the fact, that there were but
three of the members from Georgia, out- of the six chosen, who signed the
Declaration of Independence ; of whom Mr. Gwinnett was one.
In the autumn of 1776,
Mr. Gwinnett was again elected, and took his seat in December, in Baltimore,
whither congress had removed, to avoid some impending danger from the approach
of the British forces towards Philadelphia.
In this same year, a
convention was summoned, during the session of the provincial assembly, to meet
early in 1777, to frame a constitution for the independent state of Georgia. Of
that convention Mr. Gwinnett was a member; and has the credit of having laid a
basis, containing the great outlines of the constitution subsequently adopted
by the state, as their government.
Mr. Bullock, president
of the provincial council, dying soon after the convention adjourned, that high
and honorable office became vacant. Mr. Gwinnett was elected his successor. He
had now attained the highest office, and one deemed the most honorable, within
the gift of the state; and it might have been rationally concluded, that his
ambition would be contented for a short season at least; especially as all his
rapid promotions had accumulated upon him, within one year after his first
appearance in public life. But it will be remembered. that he was a "
Native Englishman," had come into a colony, and among a people of whose
real character, Englishmen knew but little ; for whom they were accustomed to
indulge a feeling that partook very little of respect. It is not very unnatural
to conclude, that Mr. Gwinnett inherited a share of that feeling in common with
his countrymen ; and that he considered the honors so profusely conferred on
him, as an acknowledgement by the provincials of that superiority over them, so
generally claimed by his countrymen; and especially by those of inferior
merits.
This rapid elevation of
a foreigner, a native of the country with which the colonies were at open war,
and who had resided but a few years among them, began to excite jealousies
among some native citizens, who were candidates for popular favor. They felt
conscious that they had equal, if not superior claims on the favor of the
community, to his. This irritated a temper naturally warm and precipitate, and
provoked him to resent it according to the demands of what are erroneously
termed, " the laws of honor."
Not contented with
having held the highest civil office in the gift of the people, he began to
aspire to military promotion. While he was representing the colony in congress,
he offered himself a candidate for the office of brigadier general, to take
command of a brigade to be raised in Georgia, for the continental service. His
competitor was Colonel M'lntosh. Mr. Gwinnett failed. The disappointment was
peculiarly wounding to his feelings. Indeed, his mind does not appear to have
been disciplined to sustain disappointment with equanimity. He was placed only
in the sunshine of uninterrupted prosperity. From the time of that
disappointment, he considered Colonel M'Intosh his personal enemy. It is
probable that the colonel did not take any measures to obviate that impression,
and conciliate his esteem.
The disappointment he
experienced in consequence of his failure, and the success of his competitor
for the commission of a brigadier general, was followed by a succession of
events, which tended to aggravate, rather than sooth the wound his irritable
feelings had received by that occurrence. The failure of a military enterprise
in Florida which he had projected, which his rivals and their friends improved
for his deeper mortification ; and this happening when he was offering him self
a candidate for the office of governor, together with the success of a rival,
who he deemed far his inferior in capacity ; all bore on his naturally jealous
mind, with not only an unhappy, but a fatal influence. By this combination of
no. toward events, his aspiring hopes and anticipations were blasted, and the
way was prepared for closing his short, but brilliant political career, and
with it his natural life.
Among those who availed
themselves of these events, to deepen the mortification, and irritate the wound
Mr. Gwinnett had sustained, one of the most conspicuous was General M'Intosh,
his successful rival candidate for the office of brigadier. The free remarks he
made on different occasions, ejecting the reputation of Mr. Gwinnett; and the
pleasure he often manifested, grounded on his humiliation, pointed him out as
the first victim to his resentment.
The consequence was a challenge, sent by
Gwinnett, and accepted by M'Intosh. They met, fought with pistols, at the
distance of- twelve feet; both were wounded, and Gwinnett mortally. Thus fell,
in the forty-fifth year of his age, Button Gwinnett, a victim to the laws of
false honor, of mortified pride, and disappointed ambition. He left a widow and
several young children behind him. But they shortly after this event, followed
him to the grave. -- The Lives of the
Signers of the Declaration of Independence, By Nathaniel Dwight, Published by
A.S. Barnes & Co., 1860, Edited by Stanley l. Klos 2000
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