William F. De Saussure

William Ford De Saussure
United States Senator from South Carolina
In office May 10, 1852 – March 4, 1853
Preceded by	Robert Rhett
Succeeded by	Josiah J. Evans
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Richland District
In office November 28, 1842 – December 17, 1847
In office November 27, 1837 – December 21, 1839
Personal details
Born	February 22, 1792 Charleston, South Carolina
Died	March 13, 1870 (aged 78) Columbia, South Carolina
Political party	Democratic

William Ford De Saussure (February 22, 1792 – March 13, 1870) was a United States Senator from South Carolina. Born in Charleston, the son of Henry William de Saussure and Elizabeth Ford De Saussure.

Legal career

He graduated from Harvard University in 1810, studied law, was admitted to the bar and practiced in Charleston and Columbia.

In the 1820s de Saussure served two terms as Intendent, or Mayor, of the City of Columbia. He was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1846 and a judge of the chancery court in 1847.

De Saussure was appointed May 10, 1852, and then elected November 29, 1852,^[1] as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of R. Barnwell Rhett and served from May 10, 1852, to March 4, 1853.

He resumed the practice of law in Columbia, and was a trustee of South Carolina College (now the University of South Carolina) at Columbia for many years. In December 1860 he was a delegate to South Carolina's Secession Convention and became a signer of the Ordinance of Secession which led directly to the opening hostilities of the Civil War.

Death

He died in Columbia in 1870; interment was in the First Presbyterian Churchyard.

Famous family members

The descendants of William Ford De Saussure include Arthur Ravenel, Jr. (1927-), a member of the United States Congress who represented South Carolina from 1987-1995.

References

1. Byrd, Robert C.; Wolff, Wendy (October 1, 1993). "The Senate, 1789-1989: Historical Statistics, 1789-1992" (volume 4 Bicentennial ed.). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 164.

• United States Congress. "William F. De Saussure (id: D000270)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.