Memminger, C. G. (Christopher Gustavus), 1803-1888

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South Carolina legislator and Confederate Secretary of the Treasury; from Charleston, S.C.

From the description of Papers, 1861-1878. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 20030153

Lawyer and politician of Charleston, S.C.; member of: S.C. House, 1836-1852, 1855-1860, 1877; Secession convention, 1861; Board of Free School Commissioners of Charleston; drafter of Confederate constitution; Confederate Secretary of the Treasury, 1861-1864; President of the Etiwan Phospate Company, Charleston; graduated S.C. College, 1819; native of Wurttemberg, Germany.

From the description of C.G. Memminger papers, 1830-1880. (University of South Carolina). WorldCat record id: 45459477

Confederate States of America secretary of treasury.

From the description of Letter signed : Richmond, to Lewis Cruger, 1863 Nov. 2. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270639370

South Carolina legislator, member of Confederate Constitutional Convention and chair of the committee to draft the provisional constitution. Confederate secretary of the treasury 1861-1864.

From the description of ALS : to F.W. Pickens, 1861 Feb. 10. (Rosenbach Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122525104

Public official in South Carolina and Confederate secretary of the treasury.

From the description of Letter of C. G. Memminger, 1860. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79454450

C.G. Memminger, lawyer of Charleston, S.C., and Secretary of the Treasury, Confederate States of America.

From the description of C. G. Memminger papers, 1803-1915. WorldCat record id: 23658744

Christopher Gustavus Memminger was born 9 January 1803, in the town of Nayhinger, Duchy of Wurtemburg, Germany. His father, Gotfried Memminger, was an officer in the Prince Elector's Battalion of Foot Jaegars and was killed in action less that one month after the birth of his only son. His mother, Eberhardina Kohler Memminger, emigrated shortly thereafter with her father's family to Charleston, S.C., where she contracted became ill and died. In 1807, Memminger's grandparents placed him in the Orphan House in Charleston. There he attracted the attention of Thomas Bennett, a wealthy Charlestonian who later became governor of South Carolina. At age eleven, Memminger was taken into the Bennett home on a basis of equality with Bennett's own children. He entered South Carolina College in 1815 at the age of twelve, and was graduated four years later, second in his class. He studied law in the office of Joseph Bennett and, after becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States, was admitted to the bar in 1825. He became a successful attorney and began a long career in state politics, aligning himself with the Unionist group. He served in the state legislature from 1836 until 1860, with the exception of the years 1853 and 1854, and was elected again for one term in 1877. He was a staunch opponent of nullification and a grudging supporter of the Compromise of 1850. In 1860, he was chosen, partly because he was known to be a moderate opposed to secession, to present to Virginia the South Carolina proposals for common defense measures following John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. By December of that year, however, he had become a secessionist and was a member of the convention called by the South Carolina legislature for the purpose of enacting an ordinance of secession. Memminger was named to the committee which drafted a statement of the causes which justified the secession. Memminger was named to the committee which drafted a statement of the causes which justified the secession of South Carolina from the Union. He also was a representative from South Carolina to the provisional congress of the seceded states and was the chairman of the committee of that body which drafted the constitution of the Confederate States of America.

In 1861, Memminger became the first Secretary of the Treasury of the Confederacy, holding that difficult position until 14 June 1864, when he resigned and retired to private life at his summer home in Flat Rock, N.C. After the war, he returned to Charleston, applied for and, in 1866, received a presidential pardon, and resumed the practice of law. He became involved in a number of business enterprises, including a sulfuric acid and super-phosphate plant and the Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad Company. He continued his service to public schools, which had its beginnings in 1834 when he was first named to the Board of Free School Commissioners of Charleston. Memminger was characterized in his own lifetime as the founder of the public school system of Charleston and has since been recognized for his influence upon the public school system of the entire state.

Biographical Note is taken from Guide to the Microfilm Edition of the Christopher G. Memminger Papers . Southern Historical Collection: 1966.

From the guide to the C.G. Memminger Papers, 1803-1915, (Southern Historical Collection)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn De Bow, J. D. B. (James Dunwoody Brownson), 1820-1867. Papers, 1779-1915. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Autograph File, M Houghton Library
referencedIn Campbell, James B. (James Butler), 1808-1883. James Butler Campbell papers, 1814-1897. South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Confederate States of America collection, 1861-1865 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Memminger, C. G. (Christopher Gustavus), 1803-1888. ALS : to F.W. Pickens, 1861 Feb. 10. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Bocock, Thomas S., 1815-1891. Papers of Bocock and of the Bocock, Thornhill Christian, Stephens, Flood, Patteson, and Diuguid families of Buckingham and Appomattox counties, 1760-1897. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Memminger, C. G. (Christopher Gustavus), 1803-1888. ALS, 1862 September 13 : Richmond, VA, to Jefferson Davis. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Memminger, C. G. (Christopher Gustavus), 1803-1888. C. G. Memminger papers, 1803-1915. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States Commandery of the State of Massachusetts Civil War collection, 1724-1933 (inclusive); 1861-1912 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part II: The Civil War and the Confederacy, 1832-1915. Houghton Library
referencedIn Ravenel, Daniel, 1789-1873. Daniel Ravenel papers, 1815-1871. South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Marshall-Furman family papers, 1794-1975 (bulk 1833-1905). Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn Miller, John Blount. Papers, 1773-1856. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Boyce, James Petigru, d. 1888. James Petigru Boyce papers, 1854-1907. Library of Congress
referencedIn Confederate States of America Records, 1854-1889, (bulk 1861-1865) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Civil War collection, 1861-1868. American Antiquarian Society
referencedIn Gibbes, Lewis Reeves, 1810-1894. Papers, 1793-1894 (bulk 1838-1894) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Memminger, C. G. (Christopher Gustavus), 1803-1888. C.G. Memminger papers, 1830-1880. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Memminger, C. G. (Christopher Gustavus), 1803-1888. Letter signed : Richmond, to Lewis Cruger, 1863 Nov. 2. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Memminger, C. G. (Christopher Gustavus), 1803-1888. Papers, 1861-1878. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf C.G. Memminger Papers, 1803-1915 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Samuel Wylie Crawford Papers, 1860-1892 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Benjamin, J. P. (Judah Philip), 1811-1884. J.P. Benjamin papers, 1827-1871. Library of Congress
referencedIn Alonzo B. Noyes Papers, 1859-1867 Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida
referencedIn Inventory of the John W. Anderson Diary Ragan MSS 00124., 1861-1866 (bulk: 1867) Cushing Memorial Library,
creatorOf Coffin, Charles Carleton, 1823-1896. Charles Carleton Coffin papers, 1861-1890. New England Historic Genealogical Society
referencedIn Capers, Ellison, 1837-1908. Ellison Capers papers, 1833-1908. The Citadel, Daniel Library
referencedIn Confederate States of America. Bonds. 1863. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Jamison, David Flavel, 1810-1864. David Flavel Jamison papers, 1850-1928; (bulk, 1861-1865). University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Gibbes, Lewis Reeves, 1810-1894. Papers, 1793-1894 (bulk 1838-1894) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Memminger, C. G. (Christopher Gustavus), 1803-1888. Letter of C. G. Memminger, 1860. Library of Congress
creatorOf Casey, Martha De Bow. Collection, 1791-1933. Tennessee State Library & Archives, TSLA
creatorOf The Year of Secession, 1861, Civil War letter collection MSS. 0305., 1861 W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama
referencedIn Rhett, Robert Barnwell, 1800-1876. Robert Barnwell Rhett papers, 1752-1953. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Johnstone family. Johnstone family papers, 1803-1979. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Benjamin, J. P. (Judah Philip), 1811-1884. Papers, 1827-1871. Library of Congress
referencedIn J. M. Mason Papers, 1838-1870, (bulk 1862-1865) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn DeClouet, Alexandre Étienne, 1812-1890. Alexandre DeClouet letter, 1861 Mar. 4. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn Seabrook, Whitemarsh B. (Whitemarsh Benjamin), 1795-1855. Whitemarsh B. Seabrook correspondence, 1849-1852. Library of Congress
referencedIn Read family. Read family papers, 1779-1920 (bulk 1824-1915). South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Anderson, John W. Diary, 1861-1866 (bulk: 1867). Texas A&M University, Evans Library & Annex; Main campus library complex
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Adams, James Hopkins, 1812-1861 person
associatedWith Allan, Thompson. person
associatedWith Anderson, John W. person
associatedWith Anderson, John W. person
correspondedWith Barnwell, Robert Woodward, 1801-1882 person
correspondedWith Benjamin, J. P. (Judah Philip), 1811-1884. person
associatedWith Bocock, Thomas S., 1815-1891. person
correspondedWith Boyce, James Petigru, d. 1888. person
associatedWith Browne, William M., (William Montague), 1823-1883 person
associatedWith Brown, Joseph E., (Joseph Emerson), 1821-1894 person
associatedWith Campbell, James B. (James Butler), 1808-1883. person
correspondedWith Capers, Ellison, 1837-1908. person
associatedWith Casey, Martha De Bow. person
associatedWith Coffin, Charles Carleton, 1823-1896. person
associatedWith Cole, Archie H. person
correspondedWith Confederate States of America corporateBody
associatedWith Confederate States of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Confederate States of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Confederate States of America. Army corporateBody
associatedWith Confederate States of America. Constitutional Convention (1861) corporateBody
correspondedWith Confederate States of America. Dept. of the Treasury corporateBody
associatedWith Confederate States of America. Provisional Congress. corporateBody
associatedWith Confederate States of America. Treasury Department corporateBody
correspondedWith Crawford, Samuel Wylie, 1827-1892. person
associatedWith Cruger, Lewis, fl. 1863, person
associatedWith Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith De Bow, J. D. B. (James Dunwoody Brownson), 1820-1867. person
associatedWith DeClouet, Alexandre Étienne, 1812-1890. person
associatedWith Ellis, John Willis, 1820-1861 person
correspondedWith Elmore, F. H. (Franklin Harper), 1799-1850 person
associatedWith Episcopal Church corporateBody
associatedWith Floyd, John B., (John Buchanan), 1806-1863 person
correspondedWith Gibbes, Lewis Reeves, 1810-1894. person
associatedWith Hardee, William Joseph, 1815-1873 person
correspondedWith Harllee, W. W. (William Wallace), 1812-1897 person
correspondedWith Higgins, Gidion person
correspondedWith Holmes, George Frederick, 1820-1897 person
correspondedWith Jamison, David Flavel, 1810-1864. person
associatedWith Johnstone family. person
associatedWith Johnston, Joseph E. (Joseph Eggleston), 1807-1891 person
associatedWith Johnston, William B. person
associatedWith Mallory, Stephen R., (Stephen Russell), 1813-1873 person
correspondedWith Mason, J. M. (James Murray), 1798-1871. person
correspondedWith McCrady, Edward, 1833-1903 person
associatedWith Memminger family. family
associatedWith Memminger, T. B., fl. 1861-1865. person
correspondedWith Memminger, Thomas B. person
associatedWith Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Commandery of the State of Massachusetts, collector. corporateBody
associatedWith Miller, John Blount. person
associatedWith Noyes, A. B. (Alonzo B.) person
associatedWith Pickens, F. W. (Francis Wilkinson), 1805-1869, person
associatedWith Ravenel, Daniel, 1789-1873. person
correspondedWith Read family. family
associatedWith Rhett, Robert Barnwell, 1800-1876. person
correspondedWith Seabrook, Whitemarsh B. (Whitemarsh Benjamin), 1795-1855. person
associatedWith Smith, Gustavus Woodson, 1822-1896 person
associatedWith Toombs, Robert Augustus, 1810-1885 person
associatedWith Tracy family. family
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
North Carolina
Charleston (S.C.)
South Carolina
South Carolina
United States
South Carolina--Charleston
Flat Rock (N.C.)
United States
South Carolina
Confederate States of America
Flat Rock (N.C.)
Europe
Confederate States of America
Confederate State of America
Fort Sumter (Charleston, S.C.)
Georgetown County (S.C.)
Subject
Education
Civil war
Customs administration
Elections
Executive departments
German Americans
Lawyers
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
Secession
Vacation homes
Occupation
Cabinet officers
Public officials
Activity

Person

Birth 1803-01-09

Death 1888-03-07

Information

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