Francis Wilkinson Pickens - Edgefield, SC - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Francis Wilkinson Pickens was born in Colleton County South Carolina. He served in both the South Carolina Legislature and the United States House of Representatives. He also served as Minister to Russia during the administration of President James Buchanan. In 1860, he was elected Governor of South Carolina and was in office when South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. He authorized the bombardment of Fort Sumter which were the first shots of the Civil War. Following the Civil War Governor Pickens introduced the motion to resend the Ordinance of Secession, which passed by a vote of 105-3. Governor Pickens retired to Edgefield, South Carolina and died there on January 25, 1869. He is resting in the Edgefield Village Cemetery.

Governor Pickens actual birth date is in dispute. Some sources list his birth date as April 7, 1805 while other list April 7, 1807. He grave stone shows April 7,1807 and that is the date used for this waymark.

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Description: Francis W. Pickens was born in Colleton County, South Carolina. His actual birthdate is in dispute as some sources list it as April 7, 1805 while others list it as April 7, 1807. He is the son of Governor Andrew Pickens and the Grandson of Revolutionary War General Andrew Pickens. He is also cousin of John C. Calhoun. He was admitted to the bar in 1829 and lived Edgefield, South Carolina. He served in both the South Carolina Legislature and the United Stated House of Representatives. In 1856, he married Lucy Petway Holcombe who was later known as the “Queen of the Confederacy,” and was the only women to appear of Confederate Currency. From 1858-1860, Pickens served as Minister to Russia in the administration of President James Buchanan and became close friends to Czar Alexander II. He was elected Governor of South Carolina in 1860 and during his administration South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. On January 9, 1861, he sanctioned the firing upon a steamship that was bring supplies to Fort Sumter and later authorized the bombardment of the fort. Following the Civil War, Pickens served as a member of the South Carolina and introduced the motion to “repeal the Ordinance of Secession,” which passed by a vote of 105-3. Governor Pickens retired to Edgefield where he died on January 25, 1869. He is resting in the Edgefield Village Cemetery near other members of his family. Date of birth: 04/07/1807 Date of death: 01/25/1869 Area of notoriety: Politics Marker Type: Headstone Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daylight Hours Only Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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