Arthur Middleton (1742-1787)

He was born at Middleton Place, South Carolina, and was educated in England at both Harrow and Westminster Schools before entering Trinity College, Cambridge. He continued his education in law at London's Middle Temple. He returned to South Carolina and was gifted Middleton Place in 1763. He is remembered as one of the Signers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence (along with his brother-in-law, Governor Edward Rutledge) and for helping to design the state seal of South Carolina. He helped defend Charleston from the British in the Siege of 1780, but was afterwards captured and held captive for a year. On retiring from politics he returned to manage his various estates in Carolina and died at Middleton Place in 1787, survived by eight children.