Francis Wilkinson Pickens
| Francis Wilkinson Pickens | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 69th Governor of South Carolina | |
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In office December 14, 1860 – December 17, 1862 |
|
| Lieutenant | W.W. Harllee |
| Preceded by | William Henry Gist |
| Succeeded by | Milledge Luke Bonham |
| United States Minister to Russia | |
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In office January 11, 1858 – September 9, 1860 |
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| Appointed by | James Buchanan |
| Preceded by | Thomas H. Seymour |
| Succeeded by | John Appleton |
| Member of the South Carolina Senate from Edgefield District | |
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In office November 25, 1844 – November 23, 1846 |
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| Preceded by | John Speed Jeter |
| Succeeded by | Nathan Lipscomb Griffin |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 5th district |
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In office December 8, 1834 – March 3, 1843 |
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| Preceded by | George McDuffie |
| Succeeded by | Armistead Burt |
| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Edgefield District | |
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In office November 26, 1832 – November 24, 1834 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 7, 1805 or April 7, 1807 Togadoo, Colleton County, South Carolina |
| Died |
(aged 61 or 63) Edgefield, South Carolina |
| Resting place | Edgefield, South Carolina |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations |
Nullifier |
| Spouse(s) | Lucy Petway Holcombe |
| Alma mater |
Franklin College South Carolina College |
| Profession | lawyer |
Francis Wilkinson Pickens (1805/1807 – January 25, 1869) was Governor of South Carolina when that state became the first to secede from the U.S.A.
A cousin of Senator John C. Calhoun, Pickens was born into the culture of White Supremacy, and became an ardent supporter of nullification (refusal to pay federal import tariffs) when he served in the South Carolina house of representatives, before being elected to Congress and then the state senate.
As state governor during the Fort Sumter crisis, he sanctioned the firing on the ship bringing supplies to the beleaguered Union garrison, and to the bombardment of the fort. After the war, it was Pickens who introduced the motion to repeal South Carolina’s Ordinance of Secession, a short speech received in silence, in notable contrast with the rejoicing that had first greeted the Ordinance.
Pickens was born in Togadoo, St Paul's Parish, in Colleton County, South Carolina. His exact birth date varies depending on the source. Some give April 7, 1805; others give April 7, 1807. Pickens's gravestone uses the 1807 date. He was the son of former Gov. Andrew Pickens and a grandson of Gen. Andrew Pickens, an American Revolutionary soldier at the Battle of Cowpens and former U.S. Congressman. His mother was Susannah Smith Wilkinson. A cousin of his grandmother was South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun. He was also a cousin of Floride Calhoun, Calhoun's wife and a niece of his grandfather. His son-in-law was Confederate General and U.S. Senator Matthew C. Butler, a son of congressman William Butler (1790-1850); grandson of congressman William Butler and a nephew of Senator Andrew Butler.
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