Christopher Gadsden and Henry Laurens: The parallel lives of two American patriots

Abstract

Born within weeks of each other in colonial Charleston, Christopher Gadsden and Henry Laurens shared similar social and economic backgrounds and became close friends. This friendship deepened during the 1750s, as the two young men pursued similar social and intellectual interests and rose into the Charleston mercantile elite. In the early 1760s, however, this friendship was shaken by several serious local issues, which, coincidentally, marked the birth of the revolutionary movement in South Carolina. As the relationship between Great Britain and the colonies deteriorated during the 1760s and 1770s, so, too, did that between Gadsden and Laurens.

In the dispute with Britain, Gadsden became the leader of radical opposition to British policy, while Laurens was prominent among the moderates in South Carolina. Clearly the socio-economic model has limits in explaining the stances of American leaders in the controversy with Britain. This is particularly true in South Carolina, as these two cases demonstrate that personal experiences and conceptions of empire must be considered as well. These two factors were the critical elements in the emergence of Gadsden as a leading radical force and Laurens as the voice of moderation. It is the purpose of this study to show, through the lives and careers of these two men, exactly how, and why, this was the case.