RICHARDSON', Richard, patriot, born near Jamestown, Virginia, in 1704; died near Salisbury, South Carolina, in September, 1780. He followed the profession of surveyor in Virginia, but in 1725 emigrated to South Carolina, and settling in Sumter district, which was then called "neutral ground," became a successful farmer, was made a colonel of militia, and in 1775 was elected from his district a member of the council of safety of Charleston. He was instrumental in the same year in quelling a dangerous revolt among the loyalist population of what was known as the "back country," for which he received the thanks of the Provincial congress, and was made brigadier-general. He served in the legislative council in 1776, and in the Provincial congress, and assisted in framing the constitution of South Carolina. He subsequently participated in the defence of Charleston, was made a prisoner of war at its fall, and sent to St. Augustine. Lord Cornwallis made fruitless efforts to win him over to the royalist cause. His health failing from confinement, he was sent home, but died soon afterward. Colonel Tarleton subsequently burned his house, and disinterred his body to verify his death. --His grandson, John Peter, statesman, born at Hickory Hill, Sumter district, South Carolina, 14 April, 1801 ; died in Fulton, South Carolina, 24 January, 1864, was the son of James, who was governor of South Carolina in 1802-'4. John was graduated at the College of South Carolina in 1819, admitted to the bar at Fulton in 1821, and extensively engaged in planting. He served in the legislature in 1824-'36, steadily opposed nullification, and was an active member of the Union party. He was chosen to congress as a Democrat in 1836 to succeed Richard Manning, served till March, 1839, and was governor of South Carolina in 1840-'2. He then returned to the practice of his profession, in which he con-tinned until his death. He was a delegate to the southern convention in 1850, president of the Southern rights association in 1851, and a member of the South Carolina convention in 1860, in which he opposed secession.