Lynch, Thomas

Thomas Lynch Jr. (August 5, 1749 – December 17, 1779) was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of South Carolina and a Founding Father of the United States. His father was a member of the Continental Congress who had signed the 1774 Continental Association, and when he stepped down because of illness Lynch Jr. was selected to fill his post.

Early life

Lynch Jr. was born at Hopsewee Plantation in Prince George Parish, Winyah, in what is now Georgetown, South Carolina, the son of Thomas Lynch and his wife, Beverly Allston Lynch. Before Thomas Lynch Jr. was born, his parents had two daughters named Sabina and Esther who were born in 1747 and 1748.

His mother was the daughter of Gilliém Marshall Dé'Illiard of Iberville Parish, Louisiana, whose brother George William Dilliard of Virginia is credited with changing the Dilliard name to its current spelling, made introductions during a ball held at the childhood home of John Drayton Sr., Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Also in attendance were prominent families such as the Middleton's, Randolph's, and Rutledge. In this marriage they gave birth to a daughter named Aimeé Constance in 1755, who later married John Drayton.^[2]

Lynch's grandfather was Jonas Lynch from County Galway ancestral line; the Lynch family were expelled from Ireland following their defeat in the Irish wars of William of Orange.^[3] Lynch Sr. had emigrated from Kent, England, to South Carolina.^[4] Lynch Sr. was a prominent figure in South Carolina politics which contributed to access of opportunity in high education and wealth.^[5]

Hopsewee Plantation

Lynch Jr. was schooled at the Indigo Society School in Georgetown before his parents sent him to England, where he received honors at Eton College and at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.^[1] He studied law and political philosophy at the Middle Temple in London. His father admired his English education and encouraged him to remain in Great Britain to study law and the principles of the British constitution.^[4] After eight years away from America, he returned to South Carolina in 1772. Although it was his father's dream, Thomas Lynch Jr. decided to end his pursuit of a profession in law.

Lynch Jr. married Paige Shubrick on May 14, 1772.^[6] Following their marriage, the couple lived at Peach Tree Plantation which was located in close proximity to his homeland plantation.^[6] He enjoyed cultivating the land and remained active in political dialogue in his community.^[6]

His father died from a stroke in December, 1776, his mother later married another influential political figure, South Carolina Governor William Moultrie. His sister Sabina Hope Lynch married James Hamilton; one of their sons was James Hamilton Jr., who became governor in the state in 1830.

Career

Lynch was elected a member of the Provincial Congress on February 11, 1775. This committee was formed to prepare a plan of government and represent the people of South Carolina. Lynch served alongside Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, John Rutledge, Charles Pinckney, Henry Laurens, Christopher Gadsden, Rawlins Lowndes, Arthur Middleton, Henry Middleton, Thomas Bee, and Thomas Heyward Jr. in the Provincial Congress.^[7] This group formed the South Carolina constitution. Many people objected to this document including the Continental Congress. It stood as a temporary constitution as many believed there would be reconciliation with Great Britain.^[8]

Lynch became a company commander in the First South Carolina regiment on June 12, 1775. He was commissioned by the Provincial Congress. After being appointed, he gathered men and led a march into Charlestown, South Carolina. Amid the march, he became very sick with a bilious fever which prevented him from continuing.^[4]

When he recovered, he was unable to fulfill his position. During his recovery, he received news about his father's declining health.^[4] In hope that he could manage his father's illness, Lynch asked his commanding officer, Colonel Christopher Gadsden, if he could travel to Philadelphia.^[4] His request was denied originally, but after receiving news of his election to the Continental Congress, he was allowed to travel to his father.

On March 23, 1776, the General Assembly of South Carolina named Lynch to the Continental Congress as a sixth delegate.^[9] Although he was ill, Lynch Jr. traveled to Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Lynch Sr. and Thomas Lynch Jr. were the only father and son to serve in the Continental Congress.^[4] He was the second youngest delegate in the Continental Congress and filled in his father's place due to illness.^[5] The youngest signer, South Carolinian Edward Rutledge, was younger by three months.^[10][11]

Less than a month after signing the Declaration of Independence, Lynch threatened that South Carolina would secede from the United States in a threat representing the interests his constituents. "If it is debated, whether their Slaves are their Property, there is an End of the Confederation."^[12][13]

After signing the Declaration of Independence, an ill Thomas Lynch Jr. set out for home with his ailing father. On the way to South Carolina, his father suffered a second stroke and died in Annapolis, Maryland, in December 1776.^[2] Thomas Lynch Jr. retired in early 1777.

Death

After two more years of illness in South Carolina, where he resided with his wife at Peachtree Plantation on the South Santee River, many suggested that he travel to Europe in search for a different atmosphere.^[2] He and his wife sailed for respite on the brigantine Polly to St. Eustatius in the West Indies on December 17, 1779.^[14] The ship is known to have disappeared shortly after, standing as the last record of his life, and he and his wife were lost at sea.^[6] At age 30, he was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence to die.

Before dying at sea, he made a will requiring that the heirs of his female relatives change their last name to Lynch in order to inherit his family estate.^[6] His sister, Sabina responded by changing her name. She and her husband owned and managed the Peachtree Plantation until their son was of age.^[6] Their son, John Bowman Lynch and his wife had three male children. Henry C. Lynch died in 1843 (1828-1843). Thomas B. Lynch died in the American Civil War.^[6](1821-1864). James (N.M.) Lynch died in 1887 (1822-1887). Upon the death of Sabina, the estate passed to Lynch's youngest sister Aimeé Constance Dé'Illiard Drayton in accordance with his will that the estate remain in the family.

Legacy

Lynch's birthplace was the Hopsewee Plantation. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971.

In his 1856 book, Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence Rev. Charles A Goodrich lauds Lynch "as a man of exalted views and exalted moral worth". Goodrich continues to describe him "In all the relations of life, whether as a husband, a friend, a patriot, or the master of the slave, he appeared conscious of his obligations, and found his pleasure in discharging them."^[15]

Autographs by Thomas Lynch Jr. are among the rarest by signers of the Declaration of Independence. His time in Congress lasted less than a year, and much of this time was spent in poor health. Only a single letter has survived, along with a few signatures on historical documents.^[16] Many of his autographs have scattered, and others were lost in a fire.^[17] Today, Lynch's autograph sells for as much as $250,000.^[17]

See also

• List of people who disappeared mysteriously at sea
• Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence

Thomas Lynch Jr. - Wikipedia

Father nearly managed a deal with Lord Drummond that might have avoided independence, but then his letters were exposed.

Elected to both the First and Second Continental Congresses,^[2] Lynch joined Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Harrison on a committee sent to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to confer with General George Washington upon "the most effectual method of continuing, supporting, and regulating the Continental Army." In the ensuing discussions, Washington told the committee of his plan to arm ships to prey upon British supply lines. The gentlemen from Congress approved of the scheme and recommended it to Congress, thus giving essential political support to the establishment of "George Washington's Navy," the first organized naval force of the new nation.

AMERICAN CONNECTIONS

THOMAS LYNCH, JR. (SC)]{.bold1}]{.calibre17}, was twenty-six and the

youngest signer. And either "uncouth and tedious" (Adams) or "sensible

and well-spoken" (Benjamin Rush). Lynch dropped out of London law

school, then as a member of the South Carolina planter elite he

dutifully went into public service and in 1776 was sent to Congress to

look after his sick congressman dad (who had a stroke, was unable to

sign the Declaration, and died). Thomas got there just in time for the

vote. He'd earlier picked up malaria during his brief military service

and doctors advised the health-giving properties of the Caribbean. So

Lynch and wife set sail in 1779. The ship went down and they drowned.

Lynch senior had been highly regarded by all as an experienced politico,

although he was a moderate who favored colonial autonomy within the

British Empire. Because of this he was involved in the cliffhanger 1775

New York negotiations with Lord Drummond. Over a month, the sides came

close to agreement on two key issues: England had no right to tax the

colonies and America would obey the trading restrictions imposed by

Britain. Things were looking good. It seemed as if the moderate southern

proreconciliation majority would tip the balance against the radical,

proindependence North. Then suddenly Drummond's secret letters to his

government (about the talks) were leaked to Congress. At which point

everything hit the fan and any hope of a deal went out the window.

None of this bothered Drummond's relative Henry, son of a viscount and

head of the bank acting as paymaster to the U.K. troops in North

America. With over ten thousand men to pay, the contract made Henry's

bank rich. There were also eighteen U.K. regiments on the books, and

average annual profits were healthy enough for Henry to be able to lend

Prime Minister Lord North the modern equivalent of $4 million for an

election campaign.

Like all young men in the world of finance then and now Henry worked

hard and played hard. Particularly at the "boisterous" twelve-member

dining club known as "The Gang" (of aristos, financiers, and politicos).

A fellow club drunk was ex--wine merchant Thomas Harley, son of an earl

and after 1770 Henry's partner in supplying clothing and blankets to the

troops in America. Harley had been sheriff of London and was an MP. He

was also a mover and shaker in the London financial district. No

surprise, Harley was very rich and spent his money (as most of them did)

conspicuously. In his case on stately-home real-estate at Berrington

Hall, Hertfordshire. In 1778 he refurbished the place (as most of them

did) in the latest Neoclassical style. Which usually meant having a

colossal Ionic portico stuck on the front of whatever you owned, a posh

marble staircase added inside, and (sometimes) a library.

The Berrington Hall refurbishment was done by a father-and-son-in-law

team. The grounds were done by the father, Lancelot "Capability" Brown,

the greatest landscape gardener in England and famous for creating parks

and gardens using natural features to embellish the buildings they

surrounded. Brown's best trick was the "ha-ha," a sunken trench that

prevented livestock (decorously placed, in a particular setting) from

entering another, different setting in which they would not be so

decorous. The surprise when visitors came across this hidden feature

caused them to exclaim "Ha-ha!" (Or else that's all nonsense and the

expression came from the Old English word for hole: \\\\\\\[hoeh.]{.italic})

Brown's son-in-law, Henry Holland, Jr., reworked the Berrington Hall

buildings. Holland's first big job in his own right was Brooks's Club in

London. Then he went on to built brick terraces (Sloan Street, Cadogan

Place), which became must-haves for the socially aspirant. The star in

Holland's architectural crown was Carlton House, London, which he did

for the Prince Regent. Holland also embellished many country seats for

such as the Althorps, Princess Diana's ancestors. And he renovated the

Drury Lane and Covent Garden theaters in London.

While busy on Carlton House Holland saw the work of a young draughtsman,

C. H. Tatham, and hired him. By 1793 Tatham was in Rome, drawing, making

plaster casts, and picking up bits of ancient ruins for Holland. Over

two years he met all the English expats and a couple of U.K. princes

having fun. One of the royals was "excavating" with an Irish

painter-dealer-spy and social climber, Robert Fagan. The purpose of

Fagan's archeology was to find hidden treasures and then sneak them out

of Italy to London where they would sell for a fortune. Same went for

artworks belonging to Italian princes, panic-stricken in 1796 by the

imminent arrival of the invading French and selling heirlooms to people

like Fagan at knock-down prices (Titians, Lorrains, etc). Fagan bricked

up the loot until such time as the French had gone and in the meantime

moved off to Florence to spy for London. When the invaders had gone

Fagan unbricked his ill-gotten gains and carried on where he'd left off.

One of Fagan's buyers was Thomas Hope, collector, furniture designer,

esthete, and stinking rich because his family was in banking (the Hope

Bank helped the United States to buy Louisiana). Hope collected over

fifteen hundred ancient vases during his eight years touring the

Mediterranean, Turkey, and Egypt, where he also caught the bug for

things Pharaonic. Returning to London as the best-informed person on

canopic vases, sphinxes, heads of Ra, mummies, and other such Nilotic

arcana, Hope then blew away the art world when he opened his Egyptian

"Black Room" and issued visitors' passes to the discerning and

well-heeled.

Hope was inspired to all this by an 1802 book, \\\\\\\[Journey in Upper and

Lower Egypt]{.italic}, written by French diplomat-turned-historian

Jean-Dominique Vivant Denon, who'd gone with the scholarly commission

that accompanied Napoleon's abortive invasion of Egypt in 1798 (main

aim, which failed: cut the Brits off from India). Denon and pals grabbed

all they could carry and sketched or measured the rest. When they got

home Egyptomania gripped France, where stylish builders added

lion-headed, winged everything to everything. Denon later traveled with

Napoleon and told him what art to snatch on the way past in Austria,

Poland, Italy, Spain, and Germany. Then returned to Paris to be director

of imperial museums (i.e., organize the booty).

In 1824 young American ex--military engineer and canal designer Loammi

Baldwin II turned up to inspect the fashionable Denon-inspired French

monuments and then went back to the States to suggest Bunker Hill ought

to be an obelisk. Baldwin had also taken a look at the Antwerp docks.

This stood him in good stead when in 1827 he moved on to his magnum

opus: the first granite-built, steam-pumped dry docks in America at

Charlestown, Massachusetts, and Norfolk, Virginia. Capable of handling

the biggest ships in the American fleet.

Baldwin got the job from Secretary to the Navy Samuel L. Southard, a New

Jersey lawyer and congressman who might have done an efficient and

effective job except for the fact that his plans to enlarge the navy

were thwarted by a penny-pinching Congress. As were his plans to send

the United States Exploring Expedition to the South Pacific to improve

navigational knowledge of the area and draw charts and maps, in response

to pressure from businessmen who wanted their cargoes not to hit rocks.

Finally, in 1838 the expedition was approved. Four ships moved off under

the command of Charles Wilkes and spent four years sailing down the

Pacific, along the Antarctic coastline, and up through the Atlantic. The

big event of the trip happened on July 19, 1840, when Wilkes made the

discovery of the Antarctic land mass. The flotilla carried 82 officers,

9 scientists and artists, and 342 sailors. It returned with 100,000

artifacts and specimens. Many of which were badly labeled, damaged, or

lost in transit to the Smithsonian.

Not good news for the trip's organizer of materials, Charles Pickering,

probably the best naturalist in the United States and busiest member of

the science team on the expedition. After he'd finished saving and

logging what he could (of the badly labeled, damaged, etc.), Pickering

set off on his own great mission "to enumerate all the races of man." In

October 1843 he visited Egypt, East Africa, Arabia, and India. In 1848

he produced \\\\\\\[The Races of Man.]{.italic} There were, said Pickering,

eleven races. The big question (for people who believed biblical

chronology): Where had Adam lived (Africa?)? And how had the races

separated into eleven over the (too short?) biblical time span?

Pickering fudged the issue, probably because of religious pressure.

Not so his friend Samuel Morton. From 1830 Morton began collecting

skulls (by mail) from all over the world and came to the conclusion that

the human races had multiple origins. Then he went a step further. He

said black skulls were the smallest, North American native skulls were

midsized, and Caucasian (white) skulls were biggest. And that these

measures related to stages of development. Caucasians were therefore

superior. Which meant slavery was okay and so was colonialization.

Skulls also convinced Morton that black and white were separate species.

Morton picked up his craniology from George Combe, a phrenologist who

believed the brain housed all the organs of character. And if one organ

were extra-well-developed there'd be a bump on the skull just above the

organ (of "benevolence," "criminality," "amativeness," etc.). This bump

could be identified by feeling the head. Great lovers had a bump behind

the left ear, in case you want to check. Once a bump had been located

its size could be precisely measured and the strength of that particular

characteristic known. Combe made this flim-flam popular in the United

Kingdom (even Queen Victoria went for it), and in 1838 he lecture-toured

America where the theory was already being huckstered by brothers

Lorenzo and Orson Fowler.

By 1842 the Fowlers had New York City offices where they would measure

your head and analyze your problems. The aim of both Combe and the

Fowlers was primarily social reform. If head bumps could identify an

individual's shortcomings then maybe something could be done to lengthen

the odds. As in the case of rehabilitating criminals or improving the

condition of new immigrants. In the second half of the nineteenth

century head-bump-reading fed straight into the welfare work of the

American Progressivists, who were addressing the problem of overcrowded

cities (immigration), bad working conditions (industrialization), and

local government (corruption).

In 1897 a Columbia-educated Progressive, Charles Sprague Smith, set up

the People's Institute in New York. Aim: arrange lectures to educate the

workers, the poor, and the newly immigrant in matters such as the

political process, science, literature, and history. Smith's lectures

were held anywhere rooms could be found in schools and colleges after

the end of the working day. At one point the hall at Cooper Union was

used. In 1923, W. W. Norton suggested printing the "Cooper Union

Lectures" and founded the People's Institute Publishing Company to do

so. This job soon became full-time. Norton changed the firm's name to W.

W. Norton Publishing Co., Inc., and started turning it into a proper

printing house. It did well.

By the late twentieth century well-known Norton authors included

physicist Richard Feynman, economist Paul Krugman, and paleontologist

Stephen Jay Gould. In 1997 the company published \\\\\\\[The

Undertaking]{.italic}---\\\\\\\[Life Studies from the Dismal Trade,]{.italic} a

chronicle of small-town life and death by a poet-undertaker from

Milford, Michigan.

His name was THOMAS LYNCH.