John Lyde Wilson

(1784 - 1849)

A Democratic-Republican, John Lyde Wilson served in both South Carolina state congressional houses before being elected governor in 1822. During his gubernatorial term, the state’s finances fell into such disarray that, on his reelection to the state senate in 1826, a colleague called for his impeachment. Wilson proposed a duel but agreed to an audit. After retiring from politics, he became head of a local “Lynch Club,” and in 1835 he organized a public burning of abolitionist literature.