William DRAYTON, Congress, SC (1776-1846)

DRAYTON, William, a Representative from South Carolina; born in St. Augustine, Fla., December 30, 1776; attended preparatory schools in England; returned to the United States in 1790 and settled in Charleston, S.C.; studied law; was admitted to the bar December 12, 1797, and commenced practice in Charleston; member of the State house of representatives 1806-1808; entered the United States Army as lieutenant colonel of the Tenth Infantry March 12, 1812; became colonel of the Eighteenth Infantry July 25, 1812; inspector general August 1, 1814, and served throughout the War of 1812; resumed the practice of law in Charleston; recorder of Charleston 1819-1824; elected to the Nineteenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Joel R. Poinsett; reelected as a Jacksonian to the Twentieth, Twenty-first, and Twenty-second Congresses and served from May 17, 1825, to March 3, 1833; chairman, Committee on Military Affairs (Twentieth through Twenty-second Congresses); declined the appointment of Secretary of War in the Cabinet of President Jackson and also as Minister to England; opposed nullification in 1830; moved to Philadelphia, Pa., in August 1833; president of the Bank of the United States in 1840 and 1841; died in Philadelphia, Pa., May 24, 1846; interment in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present