James R. Pringle

James Reid Pringle
30th Mayor of Charleston
In office 1830–1831
Preceded by	Henry Laurens Pinckney
Succeeded by	Henry Laurens Pinckney
Personal details
Born	1782
Died	July 11, 1840
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Mary McPherson (m. 1807)

James Reid Pringle was the thirtieth intendant (mayor) of Charleston, South Carolina, serving one term from 1830 to 1831.

Pringle was born in 1782 to Robert Pringle and Mary Reid. Pringle represented St. Philip's and St. Michael's parishes (i.e., the Charleston area) in South Carolina General Assembly from 1808 to 1813. He then served three sessions in the South Carolina Senate from 1814 to 1819 and served as the president of the Senate starting in 1818.^[1] He resigned when he was appointed as United States Collector for the Port of Charleston in 1819.^[2][3]

He was elected intendant on September 6, 1830,^[4] in what was described as "one of the hottest elections ever contested in Charleston" in a race between the Unionists (Pringle) and Nullifiers (Henry Laurens Pinckney).^[5] Both candidates supported President Andrew Jackson, but the issue of nullification predominated the contest.^[6] The turnout for the election was thought to have been the highest ever for a municipal contest; Pringle secured 838 votes while Laurens got 754.^[7] He served a single term before being beaten by the same candidate, Henry Laurens Pinckney, in September 1831.^[8]

Pringle was nominated for another term as Collector of Customs for Charleston in January 1832 in anticipation of the end of his current term on January 29, 1832.^[9] He was nominated again for the same post in anticipation of the end of his current term on January 29, 1840.^[10]

He died on July 11, 1840,^[11] and is buried in St. Michael's Episcopal churchyard.^[12]

References

1. "New-York, Dec. 7" Check |url= value (help). The Republican Agriculturalist (Norwich, New York). December 24, 1818. p. 1. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
2. "Dr. Philip Moser and Thomas Bennet . . ." Check |url= value (help). Winyaw Intelligencer (Georgetown, South Carolina). December 11, 1819. p. 2. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
3. "James R. Pringle, esq. . . ." Check |url= value (help). The National Advocate (New York, New York). August 30, 1819. p. 2. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
4. "The City Election in Charleston . . ." Check |url= value (help). Augusta Chronicle and Georgia Advertiser (Augusta, Georgia). September 11, 1830. p. 2. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
5. "Signal Triumph over the Nuffifiers" Check |url= value (help). Baltimore Patriot (Baltimore, Maryland). September 13, 1830. p. 2. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
6. "Election" Check |url= value (help). The Pittsfield Sun (Pittsfield, Pennsylvania). September 23, 1830. p. 3. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
7. "Intendant of Charleston" Check |url= value (help). Richmond Enquirer (Richmond, Virginia). September 13, 1830. p. 3. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
8. "Henry L. Pinckey, Esq. . . ." Check |url= value (help). Newport Mercury (Newport, Rhode Island). September 17, 1831. p. 3. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
9. "Appointments by the President" Check |url= value (help). Evening Post (New York, New York). January 9, 1832. p. 2. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
10. "Appointments by the President" Check |url= value (help). The Southern Patriot (Charleston, South Carolina). February 4, 1840. p. 2. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
11. "Death of the Hon. James R. Pringle" Check |url= value (help). Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Georgia). July 15, 1840. p. 2. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
12. "James Reid Pringle". Halsey Map Project. Preservation Society of Charleston. Retrieved January 28, 2014.