Local legends

Story by Richard Thomas

Before 1868 Beaufort was a district that spanned present-day Beaufort, Hampton, Jasper and parts of Allendale counties. This list highlights individuals who were either born in or spent significant portions of their lives in the Beaufort region, even if modern-day county lines or historical records attribute their origins elsewhere. To keep the focus on those who truly called the Lowcountry home, we’ve excluded government and military figures who only lived here temporarily during their service. The individuals featured here are celebrated for their lasting impact, and they are presented alphabetically for clarity.

Charlotta Spears Bass (1874-1969)

Although often associated with Sumter, Charlotta Amanda Spears was born in Beaufort before her family moved to Sumter, where she spent part of her early life. A trailblazer in education, civil rights and journalism, Bass is believed to be the first African-American woman in the United States to own and operate a newspaper. She ran The California Eagle from 1912 to 1951, using its platform to champion civil rights and social justice. In 1952 Bass made history again as the first African-American woman nominated for vice president of the United States, representing the Progressive Party. Her activism made her a target during the McCarthy era, and despite being repeatedly accused of Communist ties — allegations for which no evidence existed and which she firmly denied — she remained steadfast in her convictions. Bass was monitored by the FBI until she was in her 90s. Her legacy as a pioneering voice for equality and justice endures.

John Barnwell (1671-1724)

Although born in Ireland, John Barnwell is recognized as one of the founders of Beaufort, established in 1711. A prominent military leader, he commanded South Carolina militia forces — many of whom were Yemassee warriors — against the Tuscarora during the War of 1711-1712. Following the Yemassee War (1715-1717), Barnwell worked to rebuild relations with the Yemassee, though he was ultimately unsuccessful in restoring their alliance with South Carolina. Barnwell is also credited as the first European settler on Hilton Head Island, receiving a 1,000-acre land grant from the Lords Proprietors in 1717 as a reward for his service. His influence extended beyond South Carolina. As commissioner of Indian Affairs and commander of the Southern Defenses of the colony, he oversaw the construction of a fortified outpost on the Altamaha River in present-day Georgia in 1721, intended to facilitate trade with Southern tribes. Despite his efforts, the Yemassee alliance remained fractured, marking a significant challenge in his otherwise impactful legacy.

James Joseph Brown (1933-2006)

Widely celebrated as the “Godfather of Soul,” James Brown was born in Barnwell. A transformative figure in music, Brown played a pivotal role in shaping genres such as soul, funk and R&B. His groundbreaking career earned him a place among the first 10 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Brown’s musical journey began in the mid-1950s as the lead singer of the Famous Flames in Toccoa, Georgia. Over the decades he recorded an impressive 17 singles that reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts and holds the unique distinction of having the most singles on the Billboard Hot 100 without a No. 1 hit. A true icon of performance and influence, Brown was ranked No. 7 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “Top 100 Artists of All Time,” solidifying his legacy as one of the most influential artists in music history.

William Elliott (1788-1863)

A prominent planter, author and politician, William Elliott served as mayor of Beaufort in 1825, hosting the Marquis de Lafayette during his farewell visit to America. A highly successful grower of Sea Island cotton, Elliott owned several plantations in the region. His premium cotton, branded “Elliott Cream Cotton,” was renowned both domestically and internationally. Elliott was also an avid sportsman and one of South Carolina’s earliest sporting authors. His book, Carolina Sports by Land and Water, is considered the state’s first sportsman narrative, in which he notably claimed to be the first to land and kill a “devil fish,” a giant stingray. Elected to multiple terms in the S.C. House and Senate, Elliott eventually resigned in protest of nullification and secession, which he dismissed as “foolish.” However, when the Civil War erupted, he joined the Confederacy. Following the Union army’s invasion of Beaufort in November 1861, Elliott evacuated his home and lands, relocating to Flat Rock, North Carolina, where he spent his remaining years. His legacy endures as a distinguished figure in agriculture, literature and public service.

Andrew DeVeaux (1758-1812)

Born in Beaufort, Andrew DeVeaux was a wealthy planter and a prominent Loyalist leader during the Revolutionary War. Initially a Patriot, he later aligned with British forces, fighting in the Siege of Savannah and forming a Loyalist militia group known as the Royal Foresters. DeVeaux played a key role in several British operations between Savannah and Charleston. In February 1779 he allowed British troops to land at his Laurel Bay plantation to support their attempted occupation of Beaufort, a move thwarted by his neighbor, Stephen Bull, during the Battle of Port Royal Island. DeVeaux later led a brief capture and two-week occupation of Beaufort. DeVeaux is best remembered for his audacious recapture of the Bahamas from Spanish forces in 1783, a feat that earned him significant land grants on Cat Island and other Bahamian islands. His military exploits and loyalty to the crown secured his place as one of the most notable Loyalist figures in Lowcountry history.

Donald Patrick Conroy (1945-2016)

Born in Beaufort, Pat Conroy became one of America’s most celebrated authors, known for his evocative depictions of Lowcountry life in Beaufort County. The son of a Marine Corps fighter pilot, Conroy’s upbringing in a military family — marked by frequent relocations and a struggle to establish “roots” — deeply shaped both his life and his writing. A graduate of The Citadel and a standout basketball player, Conroy brought his experiences to life in powerful works of fiction. Four of his novels, including The Great Santini and The Prince of Tides, were adapted into successful films, introducing his stories to a global audience. After college Conroy taught for a year on Daufuskie Island, an experience that inspired The Water Is Wide. He was fired for refusing to use corporal punishment and for his unconventional teaching methods, a reflection of his compassion and defiance of authority. Conroy’s novels often wrestled with his personal demons and the traumas of his life, resonating with readers for their raw honesty and lyrical prose. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February 2016, he died just one month later, leaving a legacy as a literary voice of the Lowcountry and the human spirit.

Charles Elbert Fraser (1929-2002)

In 1950 Charles Fraser’s family joined three others to purchase 20,000 acres of Hilton Head Island, then sparsely inhabited and valued mainly for timbering. Unlike the original consortium’s vision of land sales, Fraser saw the island’s potential for innovative development. After graduating from Yale Law School, he drafted a groundbreaking plan for low-density development on 5,000 acres at the island’s south end. When the consortium dismissed his proposal, Fraser persuaded his father to deed him the land on a 20-year private note and, with his brother Joe, founded the Sea Pines Company in 1956. Fraser’s vision centered on “man living as a part of nature, not apart from it.” His development plan included 40 pages of covenants for property owners, ensuring standards for structure design, placement, color and height, while protecting the island’s natural beauty. Recognizing the value of recreation to retirement and vacation markets, he enlisted top golfers and tennis players to help establish a world-class reputation for Sea Pines amenities. The Sea Pines Style, blending architecture and environmental stewardship, earned acclaim from leading architectural and environmental institutions. It inspired a new standard for resort-retirement developments, emphasizing ecological sensitivity. Fraser’s bold departure from traditional practices redefined U.S. and global development and leisure habits, leaving an enduring legacy of innovation and environmental conservation.

William Harden (1743-1785)

Born in Prince William Parish, William Harden was a planter who became a key military leader during the American Revolution. In 1775 he joined the Lower Granville County Regiment and was elected captain of the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery, soon taking command of Fort Lyttleton, a critical defense for Beaufort. Promoted to colonel in 1779 after the Battle of Port Royal Island, Harden was captured during the fall of Charleston but later paroled to his plantation. Defying parole restrictions, he organized a partisan force known as Harden’s Rangers, a mounted riflemen group operating in the Combahee River region. Harden’s Rangers allied briefly with Francis Marion before launching independent raids against Loyalists and British forces south of Charleston.

After the war Harden served as a state senator and participated in the Jacksonboro Assembly in January 1782. He died in November 1785 and is thought to be buried in Old Sheldon Churchyard.

Thomas Ezekiel Miller (1849-1938)

Born in Ferrebeeville, South Carolina, Thomas Ezekiel Miller was the son of a mixed-race daughter of Judge Thomas Heyward Jr. and raised by a formerly enslaved couple. A graduate of Lincoln University and one of the first Black students at South Carolina College (now USC), he earned a law degree in 1875. Miller served in the S.C. House (1874-1880), the state Senate and as state Republican party chair. After contesting the 1888 U.S. House election, he was seated in the 51st Congress in 1890. In 1896 he founded what became South Carolina State University, serving as its president until 1910. Throughout his career, Miller partnered with Robert Smalls to support Black enterprise and economic development in Beaufort County, leaving a legacy of leadership in education, politics and advocacy.

Niels Christensen II (1876-1939)

A Beaufort native and son of the inventor of the “O-ring,” Niels Christensen II was a prominent businessman, publisher and public servant. After founding and running the Beaufort Gazette (1903–1921), he served as a State Senator for over 20 years, spearheading reforms in coastal fisheries, liquor sales and mental health care. He played key roles in state fiscal policy as Chairman of the Senate Finance and Ways and Means Committees. An advocate for South Carolina’s agricultural economy, Christensen also led the SC Chamber of Commerce and the SC Farmers and Taxpayers League. He died in a car accident near Laurens.

Stephen Bull (1733-1800)

Born in what is now Jasper County, Stephen Bull inherited Sheldon Plantation from his father, William Bull, co-founder of Georgia. A prominent political and military leader, Bull served in the Commons House of Assembly and the Provincial Congresses before the Revolutionary War. Breaking from his family’s loyalist leanings, he commanded the Beaufort District militia, rising to general and playing a key role in delaying the British advance on Charleston. After the war Bull served in the S.C. House of Representatives (1783-1790) but declined a Senate seat to retire to his plantation, where he died in 1800. His legacy is marked by military leadership and dedicated public service during a pivotal period in American history.

Thomas Heyward Jr. (1746-1809)

A Founding Father, lawyer, and statesman, Thomas Heyward Jr. was born at Old House Plantation in what is now Ridgeland. A pivotal figure during the Revolutionary Era, Heyward represented South Carolina in the Continental Congress, where he became one of the four South Carolinians to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. Heyward’s patriotism came at great personal cost. During the war, he commanded an artillery battery in the Beaufort District and fought at the Battle of Port Royal Island. Captured during the fall of Charleston in 1780, he endured nearly a year of imprisonment in Florida. British raids further devastated his plantations, leading to the loss of a significant number of enslaved individuals and earning Heyward a reputation as a martyr of the Revolution. Notably, one of Heyward’s children, Thomas Miller — born to an enslaved woman on his plantation — later achieved prominence as one of only five African Americans from the South elected to Congress in the 1890s. Heyward’s legacy is marked by his contributions to American independence and his complex role in Southern history.

John Edwards Holbrook (1796-1871)

A native of Beaufort, John Edwards Holbrook was a distinguished physician, zoologist, herpetologist and naturalist. He is best known for his North American Herpetology and A Description of the Reptiles Inhabiting the United States, the first comprehensive and illustrated account of North American amphibians and reptiles, published in two editions. During the 1840s in Charleston, Holbrook expanded his studies to include ichthyology, producing the beautifully illustrated Fishes of South Carolina. In 1855 he began publishing the Ichthyology of South Carolina in parts, though the work was interrupted by a fire that destroyed its illustrations after 10 parts had been issued. Holbrook’s contributions to science earned him widespread recognition. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1839 and honored as a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1868. His groundbreaking work established him as a pioneer in American natural history.

Thomas Nairne (1665-1715)

Thomas Nairne arrived in South Carolina from Scotland in 1685 as a settler in Stuart Town, a short-lived Scots colony on Port Royal Island. After the Spanish burned the town in 1686, Nairne and other survivors retreated to the defenses of Charles Town. By 1707 Nairne was living in Colleton County and serving as a representative in the Commons House of Assembly, where he became a vocal opponent of Gov. Nathaniel Johnson. Shortly thereafter, Nairne was appointed head of the Office of Indian Agents, becoming the Province of Carolina’s first official Indian agent. In this role he devised a plan to pressure French-allied tribes by organizing a Creek-led offensive involving 500 warriors in 80 canoes and another 1,000 traveling by land. The attack failed, and both the English and French retained their Native allies through the conclusion of Queen Anne’s War in 1713. By 1715 tensions with the Yemassee escalated. As commissioner of Indian Affairs, Nairne and four other agents were sent to Pocotaligo Town to address tribal grievances. On Good Friday of that year, the agents and their escorts were ambushed and slaughtered. Nairne, singled out for particularly brutal retribution, endured five days of torture as a spectacle for the assembled Yemassee chiefs, marking the start of the devastating Yemassee War.

Clementa C. Pinckney (1973-2015)

Born in Beaufort, Clementa C. Pinckney demonstrated extraordinary leadership from a young age. Appointed a pastor at just 18, he pursued a distinguished academic path, earning degrees from Allen University (B.A.), the University of South Carolina (M.P.A.), and Lutheran Theological Seminary (M.Div.), while studying for his doctor of divinity at Wesley Theological Seminary at the time of his death. In 1996, at age 23, Pinckney made history as the youngest African-American elected to the S.C. General Assembly. He served as a state representative until 2000, when he was elected to the state Senate, where he represented six counties and served on six committees during his tenure. A powerful orator and devoted leader, Pinckney often preached in Beaufort, Charleston and Columbia. In 2010 he became pastor of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. On June 17, 2015, while leading a Bible study class, Pinckney was targeted and killed in a hate crime by a white supremacist, a tragedy that claimed the lives of eight other church members. In the wake of his death, Pinckney’s legacy spurred a historic shift in South Carolina: the state legislature voted to remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds, relocating it to the Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum. His life and work continue to inspire a legacy of justice, faith and progress.

Pedro Menéndez de Avilés (1519-1574)

A native of Asturias, Spain, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés rose to prominence as the youngest fleet admiral in the Spanish Navy and later held the title of captain general of the Ocean Sea — a designation for the vast waters to the west, including what was believed to be the Asian coastline. In 1565, responding to French claims on territory in the Southeast previously claimed by Spain in 1513, Menéndez landed at San Agustín (St. Augustine), where he established a military outpost — the first permanent European settlement in what is now the United States. He went on to capture the French fort near present-day Jacksonville. By the spring of 1566 Menéndez sailed into Port Royal Sound, his original destination, and founded the settlement of Santa Elena on Parris Island. In 1571 he relocated his family and established his gubernatorial residence there, naming Santa Elena the capital of La Florida, which then encompassed Spanish America extending west to Mexico. In 1574 while returning to Spain to command what was purported to be the largest fleet ever assembled in Europe — possibly intended for an invasion of England — Menéndez died suddenly. His legacy endures as a key figure in establishing Spain’s early foothold in North America and shaping the colonial history of the Southeast.

William Ferguson Colcock (1804-1869)

A Beaufort planter and distinguished statesman, William Ferguson Colcock graduated from South Carolina College in 1823 and was admitted to the bar in 1825, practicing law in Coosawhatchie. His political career spanned nearly two decades. He served in the S.C. House of Representatives from 1830 to 1848, including six years as speaker (1842-1848). Elected to the 32nd and 33rd U.S. Congresses (1849-1853), Colcock also served as a regent of the Smithsonian Institution from 1850 to 1853, working alongside future presidents Millard Fillmore and Jefferson Davis. Following his congressional service, he became collector for the Port of Charleston, holding the position under both the Federal and Confederate governments.

William Ferguson Hutson (1815-1881)

A cousin of William Ferguson Colcock, William Ferguson Hutson was born near McPhersonville on his family’s Combahee River lands. A prominent lawyer in the Beaufort District, he maintained an office in Pocotaligo and frequently appeared in court alongside his cousin. Hutson played a pivotal role in South Carolina’s secession movement as a member of the 1860 Secession Convention. He is recognized as the principal author of the Ordinance of Secession, drafted with input from Robert Barnwell Rhett and others in Beaufort, Bluffton and McPhersonville. The ordinance solidified Beaufort’s reputation in the North as the epicenter of secession, making the region an early target for Union invasion and occupation during the Civil War. During the war Hutson served as a colonel in the reserves and owned Inverness Plantation, where he experimented with new agricultural practices after purchasing it from his cousin. Following the destruction of McPhersonville by Sherman’s army, he relocated his family to Orangeburg, where he lived until his death in 1881. Hutson’s contributions left an enduring mark on South Carolina’s political and historical legacy.

Charles J. Jenkins (1805-1883)

Born in Beaufort, Charles J. Jenkins moved to Georgia as a child and began his education at the University of Georgia before completing his degree at Union College in Schenectady, New York, in 1831. A rising figure in Georgia politics, Jenkins briefly served as the state’s attorney general and became a vocal supporter of the Compromise of 1850. In 1852 he ran for vice president under Daniel Webster on the Union Party ticket. During the Civil War Jenkins was appointed to the Supreme Court of Georgia by Gov. Joseph E. Brown. Following the war, he served as governor of Georgia from 1865 to 1868. Amid the Reconstruction era, Jenkins opposed the federally supervised, racially integrated state constitutional convention. In a dramatic act of defiance, he fled Georgia with the state seal and treasury funds to prevent their use under federal military authority. Jenkins’s political prominence endured, and in the 1872 presidential election he received two electoral votes from Georgia following the death of President-elect Horace Greeley. His legacy reflects his steadfast, though controversial, commitment to states’ rights during one of the nation’s most turbulent periods.

Robert Barnwell Rhett (1800-1876)

Dubbed the “Father of the Secession Movement,” Robert Barnwell Rhett, born Robert Barnwell Smith in Beaufort, was a staunch pro-slavery advocate and influential political figure. He changed his surname to Rhett, honoring a famed ancestor, and used his purchase of the Charleston Mercury to promote his radical views. Appointed South Carolina Attorney General in 1832, Rhett became a fervent supporter of Nullification and, as a U.S. Representative (1837–1849), launched the Bluffton Movement in 1844, advocating for renewed nullification or outright secession. In 1850 he was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy left by John C. Calhoun’s death. As a leading “Fire-Eater,” Rhett worked with Senator William Yancey and others to push for Southern secession. Following South Carolina’s secession, Rhett served as a deputy to the Provisional Confederate Congress, chairing the committee that drafted the Confederate Constitution. Despite his prominence, he held no high office in the Confederate government. After the Civil War he relocated to Louisiana, where he died in 1876 while seeking treatment for melanoma.

Rufus Saxton (1824-1908)

Born in New England to an abolitionist family, Rufus Saxton graduated from West Point in 1849 and began his career charting the Union Pacific Railroad and contributing to the U.S. Coastal Survey. During the Civil War he earned the Medal of Honor for valor at Harpers Ferry and was appointed military governor of the Department of the South in 1862. Based in Port Royal, Saxton oversaw the transition of freedmen to lives of independence and recruited Black soldiers, later leading U.S. Colored Troops in praised operations to capture Charleston. As deputy commissioner of the Freedmen’s Bureau, Saxton opposed President Andrew Johnson’s efforts to return confiscated lands to Confederate owners, defending freedmen who had purchased the land. He owned property in Beaufort County before retiring from the Quartermaster Corps in Washington, D.C., in 1889. Saxton’s legacy reflects his unwavering commitment to freedom, equality and justice during Reconstruction.

Robert Smalls (1839-1915)

Born into slavery in Beaufort, Robert Smalls was the mixed-race son of his enslaved mother and her owner. Exposed to a level of freedom rare for the enslaved, Smalls demonstrated remarkable intellect and skill, particularly in boat piloting. At age 12 he was sent to Charleston to be hired out, working first in hotels and then as a dock stevedore before becoming an enslaved crew member aboard the Planter, a Confederate supply ship. Over time, Smalls gained the trust of the captain, learning the harbor’s channels and secretly developing a daring escape plan. On May 12, 1862, Smalls and his crew sailed the Planter out of Charleston Harbor, successfully surrendering the ship to the Union Navy. His heroism earned him a role as a U.S. Army ship pilot during the Civil War, where he piloted navy vessels in operations around Charleston. He later became the first African-American to captain a U.S. military vessel. With prize money from the Planter’s surrender, Smalls purchased the Beaufort property where he was born. Following the war, he built a distinguished career as a politician and businessman, serving in the S.C. state legislature and U.S. Congress. In 1889 he was appointed customs collector for the Port of Beaufort, a position he held until 1911. Smalls’ legacy as a hero, trailblazer and advocate for freedom endures as one of the most inspiring stories of the Civil War and Reconstruction era.

James Madison Waddell (1922-2003)

Born in Arkansas and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, James Madison Waddell graduated from Tennessee Military Institute in 1940 and later earned a civil engineering degree from The Citadel in 1947 after serving in World War II. Settling in Beaufort, he began a career in public service, serving in the S.C. House of Representatives (1954-1958) and S.C. Senate (1960-1962). Waddell founded and chaired the South Carolina Coastal Council (OCRM) and led numerous key committees, including Finance, Fish, Game, Forestry and Water Resources. A dedicated conservationist, he established the Waddell Mariculture Center near Bluffton to protect coastal waterways and marine life. His contributions to education included serving as chair of the Board of Trustees and trustee emeritus at Clemson University, earning honorary doctorates from four South Carolina universities. Appointed tax commissioner by Gov. Carroll Campbell, Waddell was also honored with the Order of the Palmetto by Gov. David Beasley, leaving a lasting legacy of leadership, conservation and public service.

Laura Matilda Towne (1825-1901)

Born in Philadelphia and educated in Boston, Laura Matilda Towne was deeply influenced by the abolitionist sermons of William Henry Furness and pursued medical studies at Penn Medical University. Responding to a call from Massachusetts Gov. John Andrew, she sailed to Port Royal in April 1862 to assist newly freed slaves during the Civil War. Initially serving as a housekeeper and secretary to Edward L. Pierce, Towne’s role quickly expanded to providing medical care and education. Alongside her Quaker friend Ellen Murray, she co-founded the Penn School on St. Helena Island, the first school for newly freed slaves in the United States, as part of the Port Royal Experiment. As enrollment grew, they were joined by Charlotte Forten, the first African-American teacher in the region, and relocated the school to the Brick Church. Towne, deeply devoted to the education and welfare of the formerly enslaved, gave up the practice of medicine to focus on the school, spending the remainder of her life in service to the St. Helena community. She and Murray purchased Frogmore Plantation, where they lived and worked until Towne’s death from influenza in 1901. Her enduring legacy is one of compassion, education and dedication to justice.

Henry Woodward (1646-1690)

Barbados-born merchant Henry Woodward is regarded as South Carolina’s first settler and a key figure in the colony’s early development. In 1666 he accompanied Capt. Robert Sandford’s scouting voyage to Port Royal Sound and volunteered to remain behind with the Cusabo Indians, building relationships and learning their language. For his efforts the Lords Proprietors granted him “formal possession of the whole county.” Captured by the Spanish in 1667 and imprisoned in St. Augustine, Woodward served as a surgeon, professed Catholicism and gained insights into the Spanish-Indian trade system. After escaping during Robert Searle’s 1668 raid, Woodward rejoined the Carolina fleet in 1669 as its interpreter and became instrumental in trade with Native Americans, establishing networks deep into the interior. Despite conflicts with the Lords Proprietors over his alliances, including with the Westo tribe, Woodward expanded English trade west and south, narrowly escaping capture by Spanish forces in Appalachicola in 1685. Back in Charleston, he hosted pirate trader John Thurber, who gifted him seed rice from Madagascar. Woodward’s experiments with the rice proved successful in the Lowcountry’s marshy soil, earning him credit for introducing Carolina Gold, the crop that transformed South Carolina’s economy. Woodward’s legacy as a pioneer, trader and agricultural innovator solidified his place as a foundational figure in South Carolina’s early history. LL