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John Geddes (politician)

John M. Geddes
47th Governor of South Carolina
In office
December 1, 1818 – December 1, 1820
Lieutenant William Youngblood
Preceded by Andrew Pickens
Succeeded by Thomas Bennett, Jr.
23rd Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina
In office
1817–1818
Preceded by Elias Horry
Succeeded by Daniel Stevens
In office
1823–1824
Preceded by James Hamilton, Jr.
Succeeded by Samuel Prioleau
Member of the South Carolina Senate from St. Philip's and St. Michael's Parish
In office
November 25, 1816 – December 8, 1818
14th Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives
In office
November 23, 1812 – November 28, 1814
Governor Henry Middleton
Joseph Alston
Preceded by Joseph Alston
Succeeded by Thomas Bennett, Jr.
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from St. Philip's and St. Michael's Parish
In office
November 26, 1810 – November 25, 1816
Personal details
Born (1777-12-25)December 25, 1777
Charleston, South Carolina
Died March 4, 1828(1828-03-04) (aged 50)
Charleston, South Carolina
Political party Democratic-Republican
Spouse(s) Harriet Chalmers
Ann Chalmers

John Geddes (December 25, 1777 – March 4, 1828) was the 47th Governor of South Carolina from 1818 to 1820.

Born in Charleston, Geddes was the son of a merchant and received his education at the College of Charleston. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1797. Afterwards, Geddes became active with the South Carolina militia as a Cavalry Major and later as a Major General.

In 1808, Geddes won election to the South Carolina House of Representatives and became Speaker of the House for two years. He was a member of the House of Representatives until his election to the South Carolina Senate in 1816. The General Assembly chose Geddes to be the Governor of South Carolina in 1818 for a two-year term because of his strong Republican views.

Upon leaving the governorship in 1820, Geddes was given the position of Brigadier General of the South Carolina militia. In 1821, he purchased the island of Key West from a sloop trader, but could not secure the rights of the island before John W. Simonton, who also claimed the island and was helped by some influential friends in Washington, D.C. He remained active in politics and ran for mayor of Charleston in 1823, serving from 1824 to 1825. Having felt that his honor was insulted by Edward P. Simons during the campaign, Geddes challenged Simons to a duel. Simons managed to fire four shots, two hitting Geddes' son in both of his thighs, but the duel resulted in Simons' death. Geddes died in Charleston on March 4, 1828 and was buried at the First Scots Presbyterian Churchyard.


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