James Henry Hammond

About

Senator from South Carolina from 1857 to 1860 as well as the state's Governor from 1842 to 1844. He was one of the most vocal proponents of slavery in the Senate.

Before Fame

He was a lawyer and a plantation owner who ha over 300 slaves to his name.

Trivia

He popularized the expression Cotton is King, and along with several Senate colleagues authored the paper The Pro-Slavery Argument.

Family Life

He was born in Newberry County, South Carolina.

Associated With

David Rice Atchison was another antebellum politician who supported slavery.