Wade Hampton I
Encyclopedia
Wade Hampton was a South Carolina
soldier, politician, two-term U.S. Congressman, and wealthy plantation
owner. He was the scion of the politically important Hampton family, which was influential in state politics almost into the 20th century. His great-great-grandfather Thomas Hampton http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp (1623–1690) was born in England
and settled in the Virginia Colony.
Hampton served in the American Revolution
as a lieutenant colonel
in a South Carolina volunteer cavalry
regiment
. He was a Democratic-Republican member of Congress for South Carolina from 1795–1797 and from 1803–1805, and a presidential elector in 1801.
He was a colonel
in the United States Army
in 1808, and was promoted to brigadier general
in 1809, replacing James Wilkinson as the general in charge of New Orleans.
He used the U.S. military presence in New Orleans to suppress the 1811 German Coast Uprising
, which he believed was a Spanish plot.
During the War of 1812
, Hampton led the American forces in the Battle of Chateauguay
in 1813. On April 6, 1814, he resigned his commission and returned to South Carolina after leading thousands of U.S. soldiers to defeat at the hands of just a little over a thousand Canadian militia and 180 Indian warriors then getting his army lost in the woods.
Thereafter, he acquired a large fortune land
speculating
. At his death it was told that he was the wealthiest planter in the United States
, owning over 3,000 slaves
. Hampton spent much of his time in a mansion, now known as the Hampton-Preston House
, in Columbia, South Carolina
.
Hampton County, South Carolina is named for the former Congressman.
His son Wade Hampton II
and grandson Wade Hampton III
were also prominent in South Carolina social circles and politics, with the latter Hampton serving as the state's governor
after a distinguished career as a general in the Confederate army
during the American Civil War
.
He is interred in the churchyard at Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbia, South Carolina.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
soldier, politician, two-term U.S. Congressman, and wealthy plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
owner. He was the scion of the politically important Hampton family, which was influential in state politics almost into the 20th century. His great-great-grandfather Thomas Hampton http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp (1623–1690) was born in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and settled in the Virginia Colony.
Hampton served in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
as a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
in a South Carolina volunteer cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
. He was a Democratic-Republican member of Congress for South Carolina from 1795–1797 and from 1803–1805, and a presidential elector in 1801.
He was a colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1808, and was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in 1809, replacing James Wilkinson as the general in charge of New Orleans.
He used the U.S. military presence in New Orleans to suppress the 1811 German Coast Uprising
1811 German Coast Uprising
The 1811 German Coast Uprising was a slave revolt that took place in parts of the Territory of Orleans on January 8–10, 1811. The revolt took place on the east coast of the Mississippi River in what are now St. John the Baptist and St. Charles Parishes, Louisiana. While the slave insurgency was...
, which he believed was a Spanish plot.
During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, Hampton led the American forces in the Battle of Chateauguay
Battle of Chateauguay
The Battle of the Chateauguay was a battle of the War of 1812. On 26 October 1813, a force consisting of about 1,630 French Canadian regulars and militia and Mohawk warriors under Charles de Salaberry repulsed an American force of about 4,000 attempting to invade Canada.The Chateauguay was one of...
in 1813. On April 6, 1814, he resigned his commission and returned to South Carolina after leading thousands of U.S. soldiers to defeat at the hands of just a little over a thousand Canadian militia and 180 Indian warriors then getting his army lost in the woods.
Thereafter, he acquired a large fortune land
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
speculating
Speculation
In finance, speculation is a financial action that does not promise safety of the initial investment along with the return on the principal sum...
. At his death it was told that he was the wealthiest planter in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, owning over 3,000 slaves
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
. Hampton spent much of his time in a mansion, now known as the Hampton-Preston House
Hampton-Preston House
The Hampton-Preston House located at 1615 Blanding Street in Columbia, South Carolina, is a historic mansion that was the home of members of the prominent Hampton family. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on July 29, 1969....
, in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
.
Hampton County, South Carolina is named for the former Congressman.
His son Wade Hampton II
Wade Hampton II
Wade Hampton II was an American plantation owner and soldier in the War of 1812. He was a member of the Hampton family, whose influence was strong in South Carolina politics and social circles for nearly 100 years....
and grandson Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil War and afterward a politician from South Carolina, serving as its 77th Governor and as a U.S...
were also prominent in South Carolina social circles and politics, with the latter Hampton serving as the state's governor
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
after a distinguished career as a general in the Confederate army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
He is interred in the churchyard at Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbia, South Carolina.