Edward Rutledge was born on November 23, 1749, in Charleston, South Carolina. He was a lawyer, politician, and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Rutledge represented South Carolina in the Continental Congress and later served in the state legislature. During the Revolutionary War, he was captured by the British but was later released. After the war, he continued his public service and became governor of South Carolina in 1798. Edward Rutledge died on January 23, 1800.