Wyndham Meredith Manning
Encyclopedia
Wyndham Meredith Manning (1890–1967) was a South Carolina
politician
and the scion of a political dynasty in that U.S. state
. Manning served in the South Carolina House of Representatives
and was appointed Superintendent of the state's prison system by then-Governor Strom Thurmond
in 1947, serving in that position until his retirement in 1962. Manning's father, Richard Irvine Manning III
and his great-grandfather, Richard Irvine Manning I
had previously served as Governors of South Carolina
, but Wyndham Meredith Manning lost three gubernatorial elections and never achieved his dream of following in their footsteps.
in Sumter County, South Carolina. He was one of thirteen children of Richard Irvine Manning III
and Leila B. Meredith. Manning entered the United States Military Academy
(also known as West Point) in 1907. He graduated in 1913 and was subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
in the United States Army
. One year later, Manning resigned from the Army and became a teacher in Berkeley County
. Manning's teaching career was interrupted by the U.S.-Mexican War, and he left for Texas
in June, 1916 as commander of the Charleston Light Dragoon, a National Guard
unit. Following his return from Texas, Manning served briefly as Commandant of Cadets at the Porter Military Academy (now the Porter-Gaud School
), before leaving to serve as an artillery
officer in World War I
.
Manning served with the 316th Field Artillery in France
and was promoted all the way to Lieutenant Colonel
before returning to South Carolina in 1919. He worked as a farmer
and businessman until beginning his political career in 1930.
in 1930 and reelected in 1932 and 1934. During his tenure in the State House, Manning served on the powerful Ways and Means Committee and sponsored a variety of bills. In the 1934 gubernatorial election
, Manning placed third in the Democratic primary, losing to Olin D. Johnston
and Coleman Livingston Blease. Since Democrats dominated politics in the South during that time period, victory in the primary meant certain victory in the general election.
Manning did not return to the legislature after his first defeat, but instead returned to farming and made a second attempt at the governorship in the 1938 election
. This time, he fared better, defeating Blease and placing second to Burnet Rhett Maybank with a strong enough result to qualify for the runoff, which he lost by less than 15,000 votes. Again, Manning again returned to farming, but decided to run a third time in 1942 election
, facing off against his old opponent, Olin Johnston. Manning lost by less than 4%.
Although Manning would never again run for political office, he continued his career as a public servant for another 20 years. During World War II
, Manning was placed in charge of the 8,000 prisoners-of-war held in camps at Fort Jackson. In 1947, Manning was appointed head of the South Carolina prison system, and he served in that position until his retirement in 1962.
Wyndham Meredith Manning died in 1967 at the age of 77.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and the scion of a political dynasty in that U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
. Manning served in the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
and was appointed Superintendent of the state's prison system by then-Governor Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
James Strom Thurmond was an American politician who served as a United States Senator. He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party candidate, receiving 2.4% of the popular vote and 39 electoral votes...
in 1947, serving in that position until his retirement in 1962. Manning's father, Richard Irvine Manning III
Richard Irvine Manning III
Richard Irvine Manning III was a politician from the U.S. state of South Carolina. He served as a state legislator and as the 92nd Governor of South Carolina.-Early life and career:...
and his great-grandfather, Richard Irvine Manning I
Richard Irvine Manning I
Richard Irvine Manning I was the 50th Governor of South Carolina from 1824 to 1826 and was later a Representative in the United States Congress.-Early life and career:...
had previously served as Governors of South Carolina
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...
, but Wyndham Meredith Manning lost three gubernatorial elections and never achieved his dream of following in their footsteps.
Early Life and Military Career
Manning was born in 1890 on a farm near WedgefieldWedgefield, South Carolina
Wedgefield is an unincorporated community in the High Hills of Santee area in western Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. Wedgefield was so named because its location was likened to a "wedge" into the High Hills of Santee...
in Sumter County, South Carolina. He was one of thirteen children of Richard Irvine Manning III
Richard Irvine Manning III
Richard Irvine Manning III was a politician from the U.S. state of South Carolina. He served as a state legislator and as the 92nd Governor of South Carolina.-Early life and career:...
and Leila B. Meredith. Manning entered the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
(also known as West Point) in 1907. He graduated in 1913 and was subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
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...
. One year later, Manning resigned from the Army and became a teacher in Berkeley County
Berkeley County, South Carolina
Berkeley County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 142,651. The 2005 Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 151,673. Its county seat is Moncks Corner....
. Manning's teaching career was interrupted by the U.S.-Mexican War, and he left for Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in June, 1916 as commander of the Charleston Light Dragoon, a National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
unit. Following his return from Texas, Manning served briefly as Commandant of Cadets at the Porter Military Academy (now the Porter-Gaud School
Porter-Gaud School
Porter-Gaud School is an independent coeducational college preparatory day school in Charleston, South Carolina. Porter-Gaud has an enrollment of some 870 students in grades 1–12 and located on the banks of the Ashley River...
), before leaving to serve as an artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
officer in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Manning served with the 316th Field Artillery in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and was promoted all the way to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
before returning to South Carolina in 1919. He worked as a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and businessman until beginning his political career in 1930.
Political career
Manning was elected to fill a vacant seat in the South Carolina House of RepresentativesSouth Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
in 1930 and reelected in 1932 and 1934. During his tenure in the State House, Manning served on the powerful Ways and Means Committee and sponsored a variety of bills. In the 1934 gubernatorial election
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1934
The 1934 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1934 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Olin D. Johnston won the contested Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election becoming the 98th governor of South Carolina.-Democratic primary:The...
, Manning placed third in the Democratic primary, losing to Olin D. Johnston
Olin D. Johnston
Olin DeWitt Talmadge Johnston was a Democratic Party politician from the US state of South Carolina. He served as the 98th Governor of South Carolina, 1935–1939 and 1943–1945, and represented the state in the United States Senate from 1945 until his death in 1965.-Early Life, Military Involvement,...
and Coleman Livingston Blease. Since Democrats dominated politics in the South during that time period, victory in the primary meant certain victory in the general election.
Manning did not return to the legislature after his first defeat, but instead returned to farming and made a second attempt at the governorship in the 1938 election
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1938
The 1938 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1938 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Burnet Rhett Maybank, mayor of Charleston, won the contested Democratic primary and defeated Republican Joseph Augustis Tolbert in the general election becoming the...
. This time, he fared better, defeating Blease and placing second to Burnet Rhett Maybank with a strong enough result to qualify for the runoff, which he lost by less than 15,000 votes. Again, Manning again returned to farming, but decided to run a third time in 1942 election
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1942
The 1942 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1942 during World War II to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Olin D...
, facing off against his old opponent, Olin Johnston. Manning lost by less than 4%.
Although Manning would never again run for political office, he continued his career as a public servant for another 20 years. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Manning was placed in charge of the 8,000 prisoners-of-war held in camps at Fort Jackson. In 1947, Manning was appointed head of the South Carolina prison system, and he served in that position until his retirement in 1962.
Wyndham Meredith Manning died in 1967 at the age of 77.