Description

Named in honor of native Charlestonian John Rutledge. Rutledge was an esteemed patriot and statesman; he served as Governor of South Carolina, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and signer of the United States Constitution. By 1780 the British were invading South Carolina and Charleston was under siege. When Charleston fell the American army was captured. and the British military confiscated Rutledge’s property. He escaped to North Carolina and began to rally forces to recover South Carolina and free Charleston of the British. In 1781, aided by a replenished Contential Army, he reestablished the government. Rutledge was one of the most influential delegates at the Constitutional Convention where he vigorously represented the interests of South Carolina. John Rutledge died in 1800 and is buried in the graveyard of Saint Micheal’s Episcopal church on Meeting Street.