James Burchill Richardson

Who was James Burchill Richardson?

James Burchill Richardson was the 41st Governor of South Carolina from 1802 to 1804.

Born in Clarendon County to Richard Richardson, a famed Revolutionary War leader, and Dorcas Richardson, an American heroine, he received his education at the local schools in Clarendon County and afterwards engaged in planting at the Richardsons' Big Home Plantation. In 1792, Richardson was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and served for ten years. The General Assembly chose him to be Governor of South Carolina in 1802 for a two-year term. During his time as governor, the legislature repealed laws against the traffic of slaves, but prohibited the importation of slaves under the age of fifteen from other states.

Upon leaving the governorship in 1804, Richardson returned as a member of the state House of Representatives. He won election to the South Carolina Senate in 1806 and served until 1814. From 1816 to 1818, Richardson was a member of the state House of Representatives for a third and final time. He spent the rest of his life on his plantation where he died on April 28, 1836 and was interred at the Richardson Cemetery.