This article is about the 18th century American merchant and politician. For the Australian football administrator and local councillor, see Alex Gillon.
Gillon was born in 1741[1] in Rotterdam in the Dutch Republic of Scottish parents. He pursued an education in London and stayed there for some time. He became a sea captain and in 1765 sailed to Charleston, South Carolina in the brigantineSurprize.[2] He returned in 1766 in the brigantine Free-Mason [sic]. While in Charleston Gillon married Mrs. Mary Cripps, a widow from Kent residing in the city. He sailed back to Britain shortly after his marriage but then returned to Charleston that same year. On February 10, 1789 he married Ann Purcell, the daughter of Reverend Henry Purcell, rector of St Michael's Church in Charleston. He was also an owner of 106 slaves.
Charleston merchant
In 1766 he settled in Charleston and established a large business. Some ten years later he became involved in politics. He was a delegate to the Second Provincial Congress of South Carolina in 1775 and 1776 and was a member of the first general assembly in 1776.
His men elected him captain of the German Fusiliers of Charleston in May 1775. Three years later South Carolina appointed him Commodore of the South Carolina Navy and sent him to France to procure vessels for the Navy.
In 1781 the South Carolina, manned by American officers and a group of European seamen and marines, sailed across the Atlantic toward Charleston. When she found that the British had already occupied that city she sailed to Cuba.
Between August and October 1781 she captured a cutter, a privateer, the brig Venus and seven other vessels.
South Carolina arrived at Havana on January 12, 1782. At Havana, after negotiations between Gillon and the Spanish, the South Carolina joined a force of 59 vessels sent to capture the British colony of New Providence in the Bahamas.[2] On April 22 the expedition sailed and by May 5 the whole fleet had reached New Providence. On May 8 the colony surrendered. This was the third capture of New Providence during the American Revolutionary War.
South Carolina then sailed north, arriving at Philadelphia on May 28 . Here she remained nearly six months. While she was there the Duke of Luxembourg dismissed Gillon and replaced him as captain with Captain John Joyner. Shortly thereafter the British frigates HMS Diomede, HMS Quebec, and HMS Astraea captured South Carolina.
Political career
He was the founder and first president of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce.
In 1784 he was elected to the Continental Congress but did not attend. Four years later he was a delegate to the State convention that ratified the Federal Constitution in 1788. Next, he was elected as an Anti-Administration candidate to the Third Congress. He served from March 4, 1793 until his death on October 6, 1794 at his plantation. He was buried in the family burial ground at the plantation “Gillon’s Retreat,” Orangeburg District, Calhoun County, South Carolina.
Coker, P. C., III. (1987) Charleston's Maritime Heritage, 1670-1865: An Illustrated History. (Charleston, S.C.: Coker-Craft).
^Records from the Bible Belonging to Alexander Gillon
^ abPierce Butler (2007). Terry W. Lipscomb (ed.). The Letters of Pierce Butler, 1790-1794: Nation Building and Enterprise in the New American Republic. Univ of South Carolina Press. p. 23. ISBN978-1-57003-689-7.
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This article is about the 18th century American merchant and politician For the Australian football administrator and local councillor see Alex Gillon Alexander Gillon August 13 1741 October 6 1794 was an American merchant and seaman from Charleston South Carolina He represented South Carolina in the U S House in 1793 and 1794 Alexander GillonMember of the U S House of Representatives from South Carolina s 5th districtIn office March 4 1793 October 6 1794Preceded byThomas Tudor TuckerSucceeded byRobert Goodloe Harper13th Lieutenant Governor of South CarolinaIn office January 26 1789 February 15 1791GovernorCharles PinckneyPreceded byThomas GadsdenSucceeded byIsaac HolmesMember of the South Carolina House of Representatives from St Philip and St Michael s ParishIn office March 26 1776 October 20 1776Member of the South Carolina Provincial Congress from St Philip and St Michael s ParishIn office November 8 1775 March 26 1776Preceded byGeorge Gabriel PowellSucceeded byPosition abolishedPersonal detailsBorn 1741 08 13 August 13 1741Rotterdam Dutch RepublicDiedOctober 6 1794 1794 10 06 aged 53 Orangeburg District South Carolina U S Resting placeOrangeburg County South CarolinaPolitical partyAnti AdministrationProfessionsailor planterMilitary serviceAllegianceUnited States of AmericaBranch serviceSouth Carolina NavyYears of service1778 1782RankCommodoreBattles warsAmerican Revolutionary War Contents 1 Early life and family 2 Charleston merchant 3 South Carolina 4 Political career 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly life and family EditGillon was born in 1741 1 in Rotterdam in the Dutch Republic of Scottish parents He pursued an education in London and stayed there for some time He became a sea captain and in 1765 sailed to Charleston South Carolina in the brigantine Surprize 2 He returned in 1766 in the brigantine Free Mason sic While in Charleston Gillon married Mrs Mary Cripps a widow from Kent residing in the city He sailed back to Britain shortly after his marriage but then returned to Charleston that same year On February 10 1789 he married Ann Purcell the daughter of Reverend Henry Purcell rector of St Michael s Church in Charleston He was also an owner of 106 slaves Charleston merchant EditIn 1766 he settled in Charleston and established a large business Some ten years later he became involved in politics He was a delegate to the Second Provincial Congress of South Carolina in 1775 and 1776 and was a member of the first general assembly in 1776 His men elected him captain of the German Fusiliers of Charleston in May 1775 Three years later South Carolina appointed him Commodore of the South Carolina Navy and sent him to France to procure vessels for the Navy South Carolina EditIn 1780 he chartered Indien from the Duke of Luxembourg on behalf of South Carolina and the South Carolina Navy for a quarter share of her prizes Gillon renamed the frigate South Carolina In 1781 the South Carolina manned by American officers and a group of European seamen and marines sailed across the Atlantic toward Charleston When she found that the British had already occupied that city she sailed to Cuba Between August and October 1781 she captured a cutter a privateer the brig Venus and seven other vessels South Carolina arrived at Havana on January 12 1782 At Havana after negotiations between Gillon and the Spanish the South Carolina joined a force of 59 vessels sent to capture the British colony of New Providence in the Bahamas 2 On April 22 the expedition sailed and by May 5 the whole fleet had reached New Providence On May 8 the colony surrendered This was the third capture of New Providence during the American Revolutionary War South Carolina then sailed north arriving at Philadelphia on May 28 Here she remained nearly six months While she was there the Duke of Luxembourg dismissed Gillon and replaced him as captain with Captain John Joyner Shortly thereafter the British frigates HMS Diomede HMS Quebec and HMS Astraea captured South Carolina Political career EditHe was the founder and first president of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce In 1784 he was elected to the Continental Congress but did not attend Four years later he was a delegate to the State convention that ratified the Federal Constitution in 1788 Next he was elected as an Anti Administration candidate to the Third Congress He served from March 4 1793 until his death on October 6 1794 at his plantation He was buried in the family burial ground at the plantation Gillon s Retreat Orangeburg District Calhoun County South Carolina See also EditList of United States Congress members who died in office 1790 1899 References EditCoker P C III 1987 Charleston s Maritime Heritage 1670 1865 An Illustrated History Charleston S C Coker Craft Records from the Bible Belonging to Alexander Gillon a b Pierce Butler 2007 Terry W Lipscomb ed The Letters of Pierce Butler 1790 1794 Nation Building and Enterprise in the New American Republic Univ of South Carolina Press p 23 ISBN 978 1 57003 689 7 External links EditBiographic sketch at U S Congress websitePolitical officesPreceded byThomas Gadsden Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina1789 1791 Succeeded byIsaac HolmesU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byThomas Tudor Tucker Member of the U S House of Representativesfrom South Carolina s 5th congressional district1793 1794 Succeeded byRobert Goodloe Harper Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Gillon amp oldid 1072530404, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
