Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

“P” is for Pickens, Francis (1807-1869)

“P” is for Pickens, Francis (1807-1869). Congressman, diplomat, governor. Born in St. Paul’s Parish, Pickens attended the South Carolina College where he became known for his support of nullification. In 1834 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives where he was a strong supporter of slavery and states’ rights. At the 1856 national Democratic convention Pickens supported James Buchanan successful candidacy for president. And in 1857, as a reward, Pickens was named U.S. minister to Russia. In 1860 he was elected governor, four days before South Carolina seceded. Because of early U.S. military successes in the Sea Islands and a lack of confidence in the governor, a special council was created to exercise executive authority in the state. The council was abolished in December 1862, shortly after Andrew Pickens’s term as governor ended.

Stay Connected
Dr. Walter Edgar has two programs on South Carolina Public Radio: Walter Edgar's Journal, and South Carolina from A to Z. Dr. Edgar received his B.A. degree from Davidson College in 1965 and his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1969. After two years in the army (including a tour of duty in Vietnam), he returned to USC as a post-doctoral fellow of the National Archives, assigned to the Papers of Henry Laurens.