HAMILTON, JAMES (1786–1857). James Hamilton, governor of South
Carolina and a financial agent of the Republic of Texas, son of
James and Elizabeth (Lynch) Hamilton, was born in Charleston,
South Carolina, on May 8, 1786, and educated in New England. He
was a lawyer in Charleston and for several years served as mayor
of that city. He became a member of Congress in 1822 and served
until 1829. In 1830 he was elected governor of South Carolina
and became a leader in the Nullification movement. Although
still a resident of South Carolina in 1836, he won many admirers
in Texas due to his support for Texas independence. Because of
this he was offered command of the Texas army in late 1836, but
he declined for personal reasons. He later offered his services
to negotiate a loan for the financially pressed republic and was
appointed loan commissioner by President Mirabeau B. Lamar.
Hamilton immediately met with the Texas Congress to secure
passage of legislation strengthening the public credit of Texas
and improving pr