Birth Date:  June 26, 1742
Birthplace:  Middleton Place, South Carolina
State Represented: South Carolina
Occupation: Planter 
Age at Signing: 34 
Death: January 1, 1787; at the age of 44
Quote about Arthur Middleton: “A man of cynical temper but upright intentions towards his country.” – Benjamin Rush

Summary: Arthur Middleton was born to the president of the Continental Congress in 1742. At the age of twelve, he was sent to England to study at Hackney and Westminster, going on to graduate from Cambridge University. After touring Europe for two years, he returned and was married, only to leave for Europe for several more years. When they returned home, Mr. Middleton joined the patriots, and took part in anti-Loyalist actions, including tar and feathering and confiscation of estates to Loyalists who fled to England.

In the winter of 1776, he joined a committee to build South Carolina a government and was elected to the Continental Congress. When he signed the declaration, he was putting everything on the line as a very wealthy man, but he was ready to go all out for freedom. He was fully devoted to the cause. Benson John Lossing said of him, “By this patriotic act, he placed himself in a position to lose life and property, should the contest prove unsuccessful, but these considerations had no weight on him.”

Middleton returned to South Carolina with his family at his plantation in 1777, only to hear of a battle coming. Unfortunately, Middleton Place, Arthur Middleton’s home passed to him from his father, was targeted. Middleton helped Governor Rutledge defend his state, leaving his own defenseless. It was plundered, and Middleton was taken captive along with Thomas Heyward, and his brother-in-law a year later when Charleston fell. They were taken to St. Augustin, Florida, where Middleton remained for a year. When he was finally released in a prisoner exchange, he was elected immediately to represent South Carolina in Congress. He returned to his family in 1782. He was a representative of South Carolina until he became sick from exposer and died.

If you want to watch his life in video form, the White House has put out another amazing video on him! Check that out here!

Closing Statements:

Well, friends! That is the end of our journey through a few of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. I am so thankful for each and every one of you that came along with me, that supported me, and that read my posts! I would not be doing this without you!

I have learned so much about the Signers, and I pray that you have to. They were such important men in our history, men who should never be forgotten. To finish out, I want to close with a quote from Samuel Adams:

“We have appealed to Heaven for the justice of our cause, and in Heaven we have placed our trust. Numerous have been the manifestations of God’s Providence in sustaining us. We have been reduced to distress, and the arm of Omnipotence has raised us up. Let us still rely in humble confidence on Him who is mighty to save. Good tidings will soon arrive. We shall never be abandoned by Heaven while we act worthy of its aid and protection.”

I pray that we will all feel Called to Freedom!